Spain euthanasia case: Noelia Castillo dies after legal battle over assisted death in Barcelona

Noelia Castillo, 25, received life-ending medicine in Barcelona after pursuing euthanasia for 18 months. Her father challenged a Catalonia medical body’s 2024 approval, drawing national attention to Spain’s 2021 euthanasia and assisted suicide law. Courts ultimately upheld her right to assisted death, despite continued family opposition backed by Abogados Cristianos.

Noelia Castillo, a Spanish woman who sought euthanasia, received life-ending medicine on Thursday in Barcelona. Castillo was 25. The case drew national attention after a long court fight. Castillo’s family tried to block the procedure. Spanish courts and oversight bodies ruled that Castillo could access assisted dying under Spanish law.

Spain introduced a 2021 law that allows euthanasia and medically assisted suicide in defined cases. The rules cover terminal illness and lasting conditions that cause unbearable suffering. Oversight includes written requests and medical checks. Castillo’s request tested how the law worked in practice. Public debate grew due to Castillo’s age and the family dispute.

Spain euthanasia law and how the process worked

In April 2024, Castillo applied for euthanasia through an independent body in Catalonia. The panel included doctors, lawyers and bioethics experts. The body approved the request in 2024. Assessments described the condition as serious and incurable. The reviews also cited severe, chronic and debilitating suffering.

The process required two written requests from the patient. Consultations then followed with medical professionals. Those professionals were not previously involved in the case. Spanish law separates assisted suicide from euthanasia. Assisted suicide involves the patient taking prescribed lethal medication. Euthanasia involves a practitioner giving a lethal injection, under strict conditions.

Noelia Castillo euthanasia legal battle with Abogados Cristianos

Castillo’s parents opposed the decision until the end. The family was represented by the conservative Catholic organisation Abogados Cristianos. Castillo’s father appealed the Catalan approval. A court in August 2024 suspended the request during review. The appeal argued mental illness removed the ability to decide.

A Barcelona court later backed Castillo’s right to euthanasia. Castillo’s father’s lawyers appealed again. The case moved to Spain’s Supreme Court. In January, the court upheld Castillo’s rights. Abogados Cristianos then appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. The request was denied earlier this month.

Noelia Castillo euthanasia case and statements from both sides

Before the procedure, Castillo spoke to Spanish broadcaster Antena 3. The interview aired Wednesday, a day before death. "At last, Ive managed it, so lets see if I can finally rest now,\" Castillo said. \"I just cannot go on anymore.\" Castillo also said the decision never changed during the legal delays.

On Thursday, the Catholic group confirmed that Castillo had died. Attorney Polonia Castellanos said the family felt the state had failed. \"Death is the last option, especially when youre very young,\" Castellanos said. Castellanos also repeated claims about a personality disorder. \"It is a person whose will was altered by that disorder,\" Castellanos said.

Castillo described psychiatric illness since the teenage years. Castillo said there were two suicide attempts. The second attempt followed a sexual assault, Castillo said. Injuries from the 2022 attempt left Castillo unable to use the legs. Castillo used a wheelchair after that. The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Castillo has done.

In the Antena 3 interview, Castillo said family should not be present at death. Castillo said there was a feeling of being misunderstood. \"None of my family is in favour of euthanasia, obviously, because Im another pillar of the family,\" Castillo said. Castillo added, \"but what about the pain that Ive suffered all of these years?\"

Spain is among nine European Union countries with assisted dying laws, according to Dignity in Dying. The group is UK-based and supports euthanasia and medically assisted suicide. Rules differ by country. In Spain, the health ministry reported 1,123 people received life-ending medicine up to end-2024. Castillo framed the choice as personal. \"The happiness of a father or a mother should not precede the happiness of a daughter.\"

With inputs from PTI