Warning: This article contains discussion of assisted dying, mental health and rape, which some readers may find distressing.
Yesterday (26 March), Noelia Castillo Ramos became the first person in Spain to die by euthanasia after a lengthy legal battle with her family.
In 2022, Noelia was a victim of a brutal gang rape while living in a state-supervised centre for vulnerable young people.
She was left deeply traumatised by the crime, subsequently trying to take her life. She survived but was left paralysed from the waist down after sustaining a major spinal cord injury.
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With her mental and physical health declining, Noelia decided she wanted to end her life and was granted the right to assisted dying by the government of Catalonia in 2024.
However, the Barcelona native's decision was heavily opposed by her family, with her father attempting to block her wishes, claiming that Noelia was not able to make a free and informed decision about her life.
His case was ultimately dismissed by the court, with Noelia able to die by euthanasia on Thursday.
Noelia's family weren't the only ones who opposed her decision, with a close friend of the 25-year-old making a last-minute decision to intervene at the hospital.
According to Spanish language outlet Okdiario, Noelia's childhood friend Carla Rodriguez visited the hospital in hopes of changing her friend's mind, but was ultimately blocked from entering by security.
"I wanted to try to convince her to change her mind," a devastated Rodriguez, who'd arrived at the hospital with her 6-year-old daughter, told reporters outside the hospital.
Rodriguez had become friends with Noelia while at school together, but had subsequently lost touch after she was transferred to a different care facility.
"Noelia has been through so much," she added, breaking down in tears.
Despite the lengthy legal process and pleas from her friends and family, Noelia continued to fight for her right to die, telling Spain's Antena 3 that she wanted to leave in peace.
"None of my family is in favour of euthanasia," she told the outlet.
"But I think, all the pain I’ve suffered over the years… I just want to leave in peace now and stop suffering, period," she continued.
“And a father’s, or a mother’s, or a sister’s happiness doesn’t have to come before a daughter’s happiness or sadness of a daughter’s life."
For advice, support, and more information, you can contact the nurse-led specialist team at Compassion in Dying via their helpline 0800 999 2434. You can also email them at [email protected].
Additionally, if you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.
Topics: Mental Health, Health, World News, Europe
Brenna Cooper