A Spanish woman, after an extensive legal challenge against her father concerning her right to end her life, is scheduled to undergo euthanasia on Thursday.
Noelia Castillo, a 25-year-old resident of Barcelona, became paraplegic following injuries sustained during a suicide attempt in 2022. The Catalan government had initially approved her request for assisted dying in the summer of 2024. However, the process was halted at the final stage due to legal objections lodged by her father. He was supported by the conservative advocacy group Christian Lawyers (Abogados Cristianos).
Castillo’s father contended that his daughter suffered from a personality disorder that impaired her judgment. He also emphasized what he described as “the state’s obligation to protect the lives of individuals, particularly the most vulnerable, such as a young person experiencing mental health issues.”
This appeal initiated an 18-month legal contest. The dispute concluded when the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in favor of Noelia Castillo.
In an interview with Spanish television earlier this week, Castillo stated that her father had pursued legal avenues to prevent her decision to die with dignity. “He has not respected my choice, and he never will,” she remarked.
She also shared details of a challenging childhood, which included significant periods spent in care facilities. Castillo recounted an experience of sexual assault by her former boyfriend of four years, which occurred after she had taken sleeping pills. Another assault, she said, was perpetrated by multiple men in a nightclub on a separate occasion.
The 25-year-old indicated she had consistently “felt alone” and never wavered in her resolve to proceed with euthanasia. “No one in my family supports this,” she stated. “I am leaving, and you will remain here with all your pain. But what about the suffering I have endured over the years? I simply wish to depart in peace and cease this pain.”
“The happiness of a father, a mother, or a sister should not take precedence over the happiness of a daughter.”
Castillo mentioned that her family would be permitted to visit and say their goodbyes. However, she expressed a preference for being alone with her doctor during the administration of the lethal injection.
Her mother, Yolanda, acknowledged that she did not concur with her daughter’s decision but stated that she “respected” it.
Spain’s euthanasia legislation was enacted in 2021. According to government statistics, 426 requests for assisted dying were approved in 2024, which represents the most recent available annual data. This case marked the first instance where a judge was required to make a legal determination following a court proceeding.