Martha Sepúlveda

Martha Sepúlveda was a Colombian woman suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a serious, incurable, and degenerative disease. In 2021, she decided to undergo euthanasia before becoming completely inmobilized by her illness. Her story became public when the healthcare system arbitrarily cancelled her procedure just hours before the scheduled date, despite her meeting all legal requirements.

Martha did not remain silent. Her case sparked a massive public outcry and forced the country to confront the unjust barriers still facing those who wished to exercise this right. With the support of DescLAB and her son Federico, Martha stood by her decision to the end and succeeded in having her right to die with dignity recognized once more. She ultimately underwent euthanasia on January 8, 2022.

Her story, along with others, played a pivotal role in the Constitutional Court’s decision to eliminate the "terminal illness" requirement and replace it with a "serious and incurable illness" criterion, thereby expanding access to euthanasia in Colombia. Martha not only defended her own freedom but also paved the way for many others to make decisions about the end of their lives without having to wait until they reached a state of extreme physical deterioration.