Noelia Castillo, a 25-year-old Spanish woman, died by euthanasia in Barcelona on Thursday after a long legal battle against her father for the right to end her life.Castillo, who was paralyzed from the waist down after a suicide attempt in 2022, chose assisted death to avoid years of physical pain and emotional trauma.
“I can’t walk anymore”
In his final days, Castillo spoke openly about his suffering and his decision. In an interview with Spanish broadcaster Antena 3, she said: “I can’t do it anymore… I want to go in peace now and stop suffering.”Speaking before the Spanish TV program Y Ahora Sonsols, he said:“I am very clear… no one in my family is in favor of euthanasia. But what about the pain I have endured all these years?”
a painful past
Castillo’s life was filled with hardships from a young age. She had been undergoing psychiatric treatment since her teenage years and was later diagnosed with conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder.She was raped twice: first by an ex-boyfriend and later in 2022 by three men in a state-supervised facility for vulnerable youth. The attacks took a toll on his mental health.Soon after, he made several suicide attempts. In October 2022, she jumped from a fifth-floor window, causing severe injury to her spinal cord and permanent paralysis.Confined to a wheelchair and living in constant, debilitating pain, Castillo described her world as “very dark” and said it was difficult to even sleep.
Legal battle with father over right to die
Although Spain legalized euthanasia in 2021, Castillo’s path to assisted dying was not straightforward.His request was approved by the Catalan authorities in 2024, but his father, Geronimo Castillo, protested the decision, arguing that his mental health conditions influenced his decision. Supported by the advocacy group Christian Lawyers, they launched a series of legal challenges to block the process.The case went through several courts, ultimately reaching the Constitutional Court of Spain, which ruled that there was “no violation of fundamental rights” in allowing her euthanasia.A final appeal to the European Court of Human Rights was also rejected earlier this month, clearing the way for its decision to be enforced.
The family remained divided till the end
While his father fought to keep him alive, his mother expressed grief but acceptance.“I don’t agree, but I will always be with him,” her mother said. However, Castillo remained firm: “He has not respected my decision, and he never will.”Despite everything, Castillo had a clear vision for his final moments. She talked about her desire to wear dresses, wear makeup, and be surrounded by meaningful photos from her life.He invited his family to say goodbye but chose to remain alone at the time of his death.