Noelia Castillo dies by euthanasia after legal battle with her father

Noelia Castillo, 25, died by legally authorised euthanasia on March 26, 2026 after an 18-month legal fight in which courts, including the European Court of Human Rights, ruled she could end her life.

Noelia Castillo, 25, died by legally authorised euthanasia on March 26, 2026 after a prolonged legal dispute with her father over her request to end her life. The case reached high courts and prompted public attention because Spain's 2021 euthanasia law allows assisted dying for severe psychological as well as physical suffering. Castillo had longstanding health and mental health challenges and had been granted the procedure by Catalan authorities before her father's legal objections paused the process. The European Court of Human Rights ultimately ruled in her favor, allowing the procedure to proceed. Key facts: - Castillo died on March 26, 2026 after receiving legally authorised euthanasia, with authorities describing her condition as serious, chronic and disabling. - Her father mounted legal objections that delayed the process, and an 18-month legal dispute ended with the European Court of Human Rights ruling in her favour. - Medical reports cited a severe spinal cord injury and mental health diagnoses that were part of the clinical record considered in the case. - The case has prompted public debate about Spain's euthanasia rules and the balance between individual requests and family objections. Summary: Her death concluded a high-profile legal dispute over the right to assisted dying and has raised questions about how Spain's law is applied in complex cases. Undetermined at this time.