Cecilia Heyder

Cecilia Heyder was a political and social activist for human rights who sparked the debate on the legalization of euthanasia in Chile. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer, lupus, and a blood clotting disorder. These experiences drove her to campaign for Congress to pass a law allowing terminally ill patients access to euthanasia.

In October 2021, Heyder filed a legal petition seeking access to palliative care and assisted dying. However, the appeals court rejected her request. Months earlier, she had written a letter to senators, urging them to set aside "moralistic prejudices and religious beliefs" to advance the legislation. "I need you to understand what it means for me to be lucid and fully aware of the constant deterioration of my body. It is torture," she wrote.

Cecilia passed away in May 2023 at the age of 57 following cancer-related complications. Deputy Vlado Mirosevic, who had introduced a bill on the subject in 2014, acknowledged the pivotal role Cecilia played in pushing the legislation forward. Although the former Chilean President Gabriel Boric announced in 2022 that he would fast-track the bill's progress, it has not yet been approved by Parliament.