Should society help you to die? The EU now has a case to answer

By Marina Akhmedova, member of the presidential human rights council of Russia

Today in Spain, a 25-year-old woman named Noelia Castillo is scheduled to undergo euthanasia. Born into a dysfunctional family in Barcelona, Noelia spent her childhood in shelters and fell victim to gang rape in 2022. This trauma resulted in severe clinical depression, and she attempted suicide twice. Her second suicide attempt left her paralyzed and confined to a hospital bed. Since 2024, Noelia has been paralyzed. She requested permission for euthanasia, and psychiatrists determined that her case met the necessary criteria for the procedure: the young woman lives in constant pain and has an irreversible medical condition that does not allow her to have a normal life. However, Noelia’s father intervened. 

He vehemently opposed the decision, arguing that his daughter needed assistance, not assisted suicide. Despite their complicated relationship and past parental rights issues, he said that her death would cause him great suffering. He sought help from the Abogados Cristianos (Christian Lawyers) organization. The legal battles lasted two years. Throughout this time, Noelia, who was denied the right to end her life, repeated, “My everyday life is awful and tormenting.” Ultimately, her father lost the case. Both the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights affirmed Noelia’s right to euthanasia. She is set to die this evening. 

Before her death, Noelia gave an interview to Spanish television and explained her reasons for making this decision. To me, this is the most cynical part of the story. They are not only “assisting” her in dying, but are using her to popularize euthanasia. Perhaps soon we may see a surge in others seeking the same procedure. Life isn’t a fairytale; there are people who, right now, suffer from severe illness and pain. Some endure their illness, believing they must bear their trials with dignity, aware that they aren’t alone in the world, and that their family or loved ones will suffer even more if they die. Yet others might listen to Noelia and think, ‘Why shouldn’t I just end it all right now?’