Bogotá intensifies crackdown on illegal aesthetic clinics after Adriana Manotas death

A 52‑year‑old woman, Adriana Manotas, died on 10 July 2026 after severe complications from a cosmetic procedure performed in an unlicensed establishment in the Puente Aranda district of Bogotá. The emergency was reported to the city’s 123 line, and she was rushed to the Cruz Roja health post in Kennedy, where she succumbed despite medical effort.

Investigations by the District Health Secretariat, the local government, the National Police and the SIJIN confirmed the venue had no external signage, no registration as a health provider and was run by a person without medical credentials. Authorities are probing possible charges of illegal medical practice, involuntary homicide and related offenses.

The case revives public concern after the 2025 death of Yulixa Toloza, another woman who died after a clandestine lipolysis. The tragedy spurred the “Ley Yulixa,” aimed at tightening controls on aesthetic procedures. Between 2025 and early July 2026 the city conducted 1,296 inspections and 590 focused operations on cosmetic‑beauty establishments, issuing 155 safety measures and dozens of penalties.

Video footage released by local media shows Manotas being carried from the illegal site and placed in a private vehicle before being taken to the hospital, providing key evidence for the ongoing probe.