Spanish woman dies by euthanasia after long legal battle with father
A 25-year-old woman in Spain, Noelia Castillo, has died by euthanasia after a long legal battle with her father. She had been left paraplegic after a suicide attempt in 2022 and later requested assisted dying.
The regional government in Catalonia approved her request in 2024. However, the process was stopped when her father challenged the decision in court. He argued that his daughter had a mental health condition that affected her ability to decide and that the state should protect vulnerable people.
The case continued for about 18 months and eventually reached the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled in favor of Castillo. This allowed her to proceed with euthanasia.
Before her death, Castillo spoke publicly about her difficult life. She described feeling alone and shared painful experiences from her past. She said she wanted to end her suffering and make her own decision, even though her family did not agree.
Her mother said she respected her daughter’s choice, although she did not support it. Spain legalized euthanasia in 2021, and in 2024, 426 people were approved for assisted dying. Castillo’s case was the first in Spain to be decided by a court.
Edited using generative AI tools.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7vqdd23y0vo |
