She spent 20 months battling to die under a euthanasia law. On Thursday, Spain let her
Spain Grants Euthanasia Request for Noelia Castillo After 20 Months of Struggle
Editor’s Note
This story includes discussions about suicide that may be distressing to some readers. If you’re experiencing a crisis, call or text 988 for support from the 24-hour Suicide Crisis Lifeline.
A Life Shaped by Suffering
Noelia Castillo, a 25-year-old Spaniard, spent over two years navigating the emotional and physical pain that defined her existence. Her decision to end her life came after a long battle under Spain’s euthanasia law, which was enacted in June 2021. Castillo’s journey included diagnoses of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder, which compounded her struggles. She also described three instances of sexual abuse, each leaving a lasting impact. One was allegedly by an ex-partner, another occurred in a nightclub where two men raped her, and the third happened in a bar involving three young men. Despite the trauma, she never reported any of the incidents.
A Turning Point of Physical and Emotional Turmoil
Castillo’s path to euthanasia began after a suicide attempt in October 2022, following the second abuse episode. While she survived, the act left her paraplegic and reliant on a wheelchair. “Sleeping is very difficult for me, and besides that, I have back and leg pain,” she explained in a pre-death interview. Yet the suffering extended beyond her body. “My world was very dark … I had no goals, no objectives, nothing,” she said, highlighting the mental anguish that overshadowed her daily life.
The Legal Process and Family Opposition
Castillo’s request for euthanasia was approved on July 18, 2024, by the Catalonia Guarantee and Evaluation Commission. The body concluded she met legal criteria, citing a “nonrecoverable clinical situation” that caused “severe dependence, pain, and chronic, disabling suffering.” However, her father launched a legal campaign to halt the process, guided by the Christian Lawyers group. He argued that Noelia lacked the capacity to decide her fate. “He has not respected my decision and he never will,” she remarked, reflecting on their strained relationship.
The dispute spanned five judicial levels, including Barcelona’s courts and the European Court of Human Rights. Despite the father’s efforts, all courts affirmed Castillo’s autonomy. “I understand he’s a father, that he doesn’t want to lose a daughter,” she said. “But why does he want me alive? To keep me in a hospital?”
A Final Choice in Silence
Castillo’s euthanasia took place at Sant Pere de Ribes hospital, where she had resided. In her final moments, she asked to be alone, stating, “I don’t want anyone inside” her room. “I don’t want them to see me close my eyes,” she said, capturing the quiet resolve of her decision. Her case became a symbol of the complex interplay between personal pain and legal rights, sparking nationwide discourse about the ethics of assisted dying in Spain.
“I finally did it, and now maybe I can finally rest,” she told the Antena 3 journalist. “I can’t take this family anymore, I can’t take the pain anymore, I can’t take everything that torments me in my head.”
