Woman left severely disfigured by husband’s acid attack 26 years ago has been approved for euthanasia
A woman from Columbia who’s had more than 80 operations since an acid attack at the hands of her husband has been approved for euthanasia.
Maria Consuelo Cordoba suffered the attack in 2000 after her husband threw acid in her face, leaving her severely disfigured.
The 58-year-old says she moved to Bogota with her then-husband almost 30 years ago to find work.
After she refused to return with him to their home region of Choco, she said her husband hid the acid inside a liquor bottle.
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When she opened the door, he threw the liquid over her face before running away.
She now needs two plastic tubes in her nose to help her breathe and has only a small opening where her mouth used to be.
For years, she has struggled to eat, cannot work and is still waiting for more reconstructive surgery.
“When I opened the door he threw the acid at me,” she told Columbian TV.
“I didn’t know it was acid because he had it in a bottle of liquor. I just thought he was drinking.
“When I went out he threw that liquid in my face.
“He ran away and I felt like it was burning, so I went home to throw water on it.”
In 2017, Cordoba said she met Pope Francis during his visit to Colombia.
She told him about her suffering and said she was considering euthanasia.
Cordoba claims the Pope persuaded her to continue living, telling her ‘Colombia will help you get the surgeries you need’.
“But you know what? No one has helped me. I’m worse,” she admitted.
Health organisation Capital Salud has since confirmed that Cordoba has been approved for euthanasia.
“Maria Consuelo will continue to be supported with respect, humanity and dignity,” it said.
“We will be available to attend to all her health needs.”
In the UK, euthanasia is currently illegal.
Topics: World News, Health
Anish Vij