A 25-year-old woman in Spain has died by euthanasia following a prolonged legal dispute with her father over her decision to pursue assisted dying, the BBC reported.
Noelia Castillo from Barcelona became paraplegic after a suicide attempt in 2022. In 2024, the Catalan government approved her request for euthanasia, but the procedure was paused when her father challenged the decision in court with support from the conservative legal group Christian Lawyers.
He argued that Castillo had a personality disorder and said the state should protect vulnerable people, particularly those with mental health issues. Castillo’s mother said she disagreed with her daughter’s decision but respected it.
In a television interview earlier this week, Castillo said her father had attempted to prevent her from making the decision and did not respect her wishes. She also spoke about her past, including time in care homes and experiences of sexual assault. She said she was certain about her decision and wanted to end her suffering.
The legal process lasted 18 months before the European Court of Human Rights ruled in Castillo’s favor, allowing the procedure to proceed.
Spain legalized euthanasia in 2021. In 2024, government data showed that 426 assisted dying requests were approved. Castillo’s case was the first to require a court decision on such a request.
