Woman who was deformed in acid attack by her husband pleads to be euthanised years after the Pope talked her out of ending her own life but the help she hoped for never came

A Colombian woman who was left disfigured and in need of countless medical treatments after her husband hurled acid at her is seeking euthanasia. 

Maria Consuelo Cordoba’s plea comes nearly a decade after Pope Francis reportedly talked her out of ending her life during a visit to Colombia. 

The 58-year-old, who lives in the capital city of Bogota, became the victim of an acid attack in 2000 after an argument with her then-husband. 

She was left with life-changing injuries, and in the last 26 years, Ms Cordoba has undergone over 80 surgeries, spent long periods in hospital, and continues to receive never-ending medical treatment. 

Now, physically and financially exhausted, Ms Cordoba says she doesn’t want to keep on living. 

In an interview with Colombian news outlet CityTV this week, Ms Cordoba appeared wearing a mask over her scarred face, with two plastic tubes poking out of her nose, which she says she needs to help her breathe. 

She only has a small hole for a mouth and struggles to eat. She says she is still waiting to have facial reconstructive surgery and is unable to work due to the severity of her condition. 

Ms Cordoba says she spends her days walking around Bogota begging for money so that she can pay for the small room she rents. 

Pictured: Maria Consuelo Cordoba before the attack

According to Ms Cordoba, she met Pope Francis during his visit to Colombia in 2017. 

After telling him about her emotional and physical struggles, she says he made her promise that she would not seek euthanasia. 

‘He told me…’Colombia will help you get the surgeries you need’…but you know what? No one has helped me…I’m worse.’

Ms Cordoba, originally from the department of Choco, moved to Bogota with her ex-husband nearly three decades ago in search of work. 

She says her husband threw acid at her after she refused to return to Choco with him. 

‘When I opened the door he threw the acid at me…I did’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,’ she recalled.

‘He ran away and I felt like it was burning, so I went home to throw water on it,’ she said.  

Ms Cordoba quickly went viral after her interview with the Colombian broadcaster, with scores of viewers condemning authorities for not having done more to help her. 

Colombia’s health entity, Capital Salud, has since issued a statement saying Ms Cordoba has been approved for euthanasia, but said it would guarantee her the medical care she needs. 

Capital Salud added that it will support whatever decision Ms Cordoba decides to make. 

‘María Consuelo will continue to be supported with respect, humanity and dignity… we will be available to attend to all her health needs,’ it said.

Ms Cordoba can’t work due to her injuries so she says she is forced to beg for money

Colombia was the first Latin American country to decriminalise euthanasia and remains one of the most progressive nations when it comes to assisted dying. 

Ms Cordoba’s tragic ordeal comes just months after Spanish chef Ainhoa Caballero Medina requested she be euthanised after an attempted murder by her ex-boyfriend left her in chronic pain.

The 28-year-old says she has faced a relentless battle with life-changing injuries, including brain damage and the loss of her sense of taste and smell.

At the same time, she says her local council repeatedly failed her, refusing to recognise her as a victim of domestic abuse, even as her ex-partner continued to threaten her from prison, where he is under provisional detention and subject to a restraining order.

Unable to escape her physical agony and having lost all hope that the authorities would ever help her, she ultimately sought an assisted death under Spain’s euthanasia law.