Noelia Castillo spent 20 months battling to die under a euthanasia law. On Thursday, Spain let her
CNN • • world
Key Points:
- Noelia Castillo, a 25-year-old Spaniard suffering from severe physical and emotional pain, chose euthanasia in 2024 to end her life, sparking intense debate in Spain about assisted suicide.
- Castillo’s decision followed a traumatic life marked by a turbulent home environment, mental health diagnoses, and multiple episodes of sexual abuse, culminating in a suicide attempt that left her paraplegic.
- Although euthanasia has been legal in Spain since 2021, Castillo’s request faced a 20-month legal battle initiated by her father, who opposed her decision and questioned her capacity to decide.
- Multiple judicial bodies, including Spain’s highest courts and the European Court of Human Rights, upheld Castillo’s right to euthanasia, confirming she met all legal criteria.
- Castillo expressed a desire to die in peace, away from family, citing unbearable pain and emotional torment, and ultimately carried out her euthanasia at Sant Pere de Ribes hospital.
