A 25-year-old resident of Spain, Noelia Castillo Ramos, obtained the right to undergo euthanasia after nearly two years of legal battles with her family, according to El País.
The procedure was expected to take place on March 26.
Severe injuries and chronic pain were the reason
From the age of 12, Silvia lived in a shelter, and after turning 18, she moved to a social center, where she was subjected to gang rape.
After the violence she experienced, the girl attempted to take her own life by jumping out of a window. She survived but suffered severe injuries and partial paralysis. According to doctors, her condition is irreversible and accompanied by constant pain.
In 2024, she filed a request for euthanasia. A special medical commission approved it, confirming that it met the established criteria.
Family tried to challenge the decision
The girl’s father, with the help of the conservative Spanish legal association Abogados Cristianos, managed to suspend the procedure through the courts. He argued that due to her health condition, his daughter was not capable of making decisions independently.
Despite this, a court of first instance and the High Court of Catalonia признали ее дееспособной and confirmed her right to euthanasia.
The decision was supported by higher courts
The family’s appeals were rejected by the Supreme Court of Spain in January 2026. Later, the position of the national courts was supported by the Constitutional Court of Spain and the European Court of Human Rights.
Thus, the final decision remained in force.
The woman insisted on her choice
In an interview with the TV channel Antena 3, part of the Atresmedia, she said that she could no longer endure the pain and her psychological condition.
«No one in my family supports euthanasia. Of course, because I am one of the pillars of the family. I will leave, and you will remain here with all this pain. But I think: what about all the pain I have endured all these years? I just want to leave peacefully and stop suffering — that’s all,» she said.
According to her, she wanted to undergo the procedure alone.
Context: euthanasia in Spain
Euthanasia and assisted dying have been legal in Spain since 2021. To obtain approval, several stages of medical and legal review must be completed.
According to authorities, up to 2,000 people have undergone the procedure since legalization.
