A 25-year-old woman in Spain was euthanized Thursday after authorities allegedly denied her written request to postpone her death for six months so she could reconsider, the family's lawyer claimed. The request, submitted ahead of the scheduled assisted suicide, was allegedly not accepted by the administration, which determined that she had expressed “only doubts,” a rationale that carried no legal standing in the decision-making process, according to her father’s lawyer, Polonia Castellanos.
"Noelia requested a 6-month postponement of her euthanasia to take the time to think, which was denied to her," Polonia Castellanos said in an interview.
Noelia Castillo Ramos died at approximately 6 pm on Thursday in a Barcelona care facility. The euthanasia proceeded after a long series of legal challenges brought by her father were rejected by Spanish courts and, earlier this month, by the European Court of Human Rights.
Her case had been under review since 2024, when an expert committee initially approved her request. Her death was delayed for nearly two years due to ongoing litigation.
In the hours before her death, access to the facility was restricted as a crowd gathered outside. Security prevented entry to several individuals, including a friend who arrived about an hour before the scheduled procedure.
“I wanted to try to convince her to change her mind,” the friend said. That friend was prevented from doing so.
Noelia had a history of psychiatric treatment dating back to her early teens and had been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder. She also had prior suicidal behavior. In 2022, she was moved to a group home and sexually assaulted by African migrants.
After that, she tried to kill herself, leaving her paralyzed. Medical records indicated she experienced severe, chronic pain with no expectation of recovery.
She had publicly stated her intentions prior to being killed by the government. “I've told them that family can come to say goodbye, but not when they're about to give me the injection,” she said. She also stated, “I want to go now in peace and stop suffering, period.”
According to Castellanos, Noelia’s parents faced pressure not to delay the euthanasia due to scheduling tied to organ donation procedures.
"Noelia requested a 6-month postponement of her euthanasia to take the time to think, which was denied to her," Polonia Castellanos said in an interview.
Noelia Castillo Ramos died at approximately 6 pm on Thursday in a Barcelona care facility. The euthanasia proceeded after a long series of legal challenges brought by her father were rejected by Spanish courts and, earlier this month, by the European Court of Human Rights.
Her case had been under review since 2024, when an expert committee initially approved her request. Her death was delayed for nearly two years due to ongoing litigation.
In the hours before her death, access to the facility was restricted as a crowd gathered outside. Security prevented entry to several individuals, including a friend who arrived about an hour before the scheduled procedure.
“I wanted to try to convince her to change her mind,” the friend said. That friend was prevented from doing so.
Noelia had a history of psychiatric treatment dating back to her early teens and had been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder. She also had prior suicidal behavior. In 2022, she was moved to a group home and sexually assaulted by African migrants.
After that, she tried to kill herself, leaving her paralyzed. Medical records indicated she experienced severe, chronic pain with no expectation of recovery.
She had publicly stated her intentions prior to being killed by the government. “I've told them that family can come to say goodbye, but not when they're about to give me the injection,” she said. She also stated, “I want to go now in peace and stop suffering, period.”
According to Castellanos, Noelia’s parents faced pressure not to delay the euthanasia due to scheduling tied to organ donation procedures.
