Noelia Castillo dies after euthanasia in case that sparked legal battle with father

Noelia Castillo, a 25-year-old from Barcelona whose case sparked a lengthy legal battle with her father, has died after undergoing euthanasia in Spain.

Castillo had been left paraplegic following a suicide attempt in 2022 and had sought assisted dying under Spain’s euthanasia law, which came into force in 2021.

Her request was initially approved by regional authorities in 2024. However, the process was halted after her father challenged the decision in court, arguing that her mental health condition affected her ability to make such a choice.

The case moved through multiple legal stages over the following months, eventually reaching the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled in Castillo’s favour, allowing the procedure to go ahead.

In interviews before her death, Castillo spoke about years of personal trauma that shaped her decision, including experiences of sexual assault and a difficult upbringing. She said these experiences contributed to her long-term emotional and physical suffering.

Her death was confirmed on Thursday by the conservative legal group Christian Lawyers, which had supported her father’s case and had previously criticised Spain’s euthanasia framework.

Castillo had also spoken publicly about her wish to “end the suffering”, saying she wanted to be able to make her own decision after years of hardship.

Spain is among a number of countries that allow euthanasia under strict legal conditions. According to official data, hundreds of assisted dying requests are approved each year, with cases like Castillo’s drawing attention to how the law is applied.

Her case is believed to be one of the first in Spain to reach the courts in such a direct challenge, highlighting the legal and ethical complexities surrounding assisted dying.

Castillo’s death has reignited debate over euthanasia laws, particularly around questions of consent, mental health and the role of families in such decisions.