Controversy Erupts After Author Carolina Sanín’s Remarks on Suicides Amid Recent Tragedy at Javeriana University

Bogotá writer Carolina Sanín sparked controversy with the phrase “a suicide has no culprits,” published on her X account.

Although the post does not refer to a specific suicide, it has recently come to light the news of a resident doctor from the Javeriana University, Catalina Gutiérrez Zuluaga, who reportedly committed suicide as a result of professional mistreatment.

A user identified as María Pilar responded: “Tell that to Pilar, Catalina’s mother. Maybe it will be of comfort to her.” To which the author of The Children replied: “Will it be comforting to blame third parties? Is that how you think a grieving process is made? Quite barbaric and foolish, you.” Later, the user concluded with: “Thank you, I am a relative of Cata.”

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Carolina Sanín is confronted by a relative of the student who committed suicide at Universidad Javeriana – credit X

On July 21, she made another post regarding the topic: “One of the most terrible things in the world: the morbid fascination triggered by a suicide. And it is understandable that there is distress and heartbreak, but it is also an opportunity for restraint and reflection. And respect. Especially from curious third parties. It is base to use it as an excuse to throw stones.”

Carolina Sanín causes uproar with statements about suicides – credit X

On social media, several people have questioned the statements of the writer and educator, as they believe that through X, she seeks to draw the attention of curious onlookers.

After the news of Catalina Gutiérrez Zuluaga’s suicide, a medical student at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, reactions arose that evidenced supposed situations of mistreatment among the students. In a message directed to the community, the Javeriana authorities expressed their condolences to the family, friends, classmates, and professors of Catalina Gutiérrez Zuluaga.

Universidad Javeriana commented on the suicide of Catalina Gutiérrez Zuluaga – credit @UniJaveriana/X

According to the university’s statement, this event, which shocked the educational community, generated a profound reflection on the “culture and ways of proceeding in the training of our specialist doctors.”

The Javeriana Communications Directorate stated that, with “prudence and respect,” actions have been developed to support Catalina’s loved ones. The institution announced that in the coming weeks there will be meetings with professors and dialogue spaces with residents from different specialties to address the issue and support the community.

The statement urges the community to maintain the “maximum care and respect in the use of words during these moments of vulnerability,” seeking to ensure that conversations are appropriate and respectful. Additionally, the institution committed to reviewing situations contrary to its principles and to taking measures to guarantee the well-being of the community, with the support of the Vice Rectorship of the Environment to establish the appropriate course of action.

Catalina Gutiérrez Zuluaga left a note thanking some of her classmates for their company – credit Universidad Javeriana /drcarlosjaramillo/Instagram

Recognizing the challenging nature of medical training, the statement emphasized the need to reflect on the culture and ways of proceeding in the training of specialist doctors. Although strategies already exist in this regard, the university aims to “strengthen the care of students, professors, and patients.”

Finally, the Javeriana reaffirmed its commitment to listening to and reviewing community contributions to implement corresponding measures at both the Faculty and University levels.

The institution provided the contacts for its Communications Directorate for any additional information: 320 836 0217 and 321 696 2927.

Doctor Carlos Jaramillo, director of the Institute of Functional Medicine and Scientific Director of Savvy, revealed on his Instagram account that he had also been part of Universidad Javeriana in the specialty of surgery, but resigned due to the mistreatment he received.

“We are going to talk about something very sad, but something that has to stop, something that has to end forever,” Jaramillo indicated at the beginning of a broadcast where he revealed his story.

Firstly, Jaramillo stated that although it has not been proven that Catalina Gutiérrez suffered mistreatment at the university, he was a witness that the claims made about the educational center are true.

“We are going to talk about how for doctors, our dreams end with our lives… Anyone could say that it is a person who made that decision for whatever reason, but in this institution, they end our lives, they end our dreams,” Jaramillo highlighted.

Among the mistreatments he received, Jaramillo highlighted that they are prohibited from having partners and that in some cases, there are professors who arrive drunk and demand that students take care of surgeries so that they can rest.