Noelia Castillo, a 25-year-old Barcelona woman left paraplegic after a suicide attempt in 2022, is set to die by euthanasia on Thursday following an 18-month legal battle with her father.
The Catalan government approved her request for assisted dying in 2024, but the process was halted when her father, supported by the conservative group Christian Lawyers, challenged the decision. He argued she suffered from a personality disorder impairing her judgment and claimed the state must protect vulnerable individuals.
The European Court of Human Rights ultimately ruled in Castillo’s favor, affirming her right to make autonomous end-of-life decisions.
Castillo cited years of trauma, including sexual assault and a difficult childhood spent largely in care homes. "I just want to leave in peace and stop the pain," she said in a televised interview. While her family opposes the decision, her mother stated she "respects" it.
Spain’s euthanasia law took effect in 2021. In 2024, 426 requests were approved. This marks the first case requiring judicial intervention.