“Paraplegic Noelia Castillo to Receive Euthanasia This Thursday to End Suffering”
Paraplegic Noelia Castillo, 25, will undergo euthanasia on Thursday after final judicial decisions cleared the way. The procedure is scheduled for 26 March 2026. Filmogaz.com confirms medical and legal approvals are in place.
How she became paraplegic
Noelia is from Barcelona. On 4 October 2022, she jumped from a fifth floor following a multiple sexual assault.
She suffered a complete and irreversible spinal cord injury. The damage left her unable to move from the waist down. She also endures neuropathic pain and incontinence.
Medical request and approvals
In 2024 she formally applied for assisted death. Medical teams and the Catalonia Commission of Guarantees and Evaluation approved the request.
Those approvals recognized her diagnosis as irreversible and her persistent suffering. The medical and legal backing was key to the next steps.
Long judicial journey
The case moved through several Spanish courts. Catalan judges first endorsed her right to die with medical assistance.
The Supreme Court later upheld that decision. The Constitutional Court dismissed the family’s final appeal, finding no breach of fundamental rights.
The dispute reached the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. A request for a precautionary measure to halt the procedure was rejected in March 2026.
Delays and timeline
- October 4, 2022: suicide attempt and spinal injury.
- 2024: formal request for assisted death.
- March 2026: European court rejected the request to stop the procedure.
- March 26, 2026 (Thursday): euthanasia scheduled.
Family division and public debate
The family was deeply split over her choice. Her father opposed the request and lodged legal actions.
He received support from the organization Abogados Cristianos. Her mother did not agree with the decision but chose to accompany her daughter.
Noelia’s testimony
In an interview with the Antena 3 program Y ahora Sonsoles, Noelia described long-term physical and emotional pain. She said she felt intense loneliness and persistent insomnia.
She expressed a desire to stop suffering and to leave in peace. She also criticized her family’s lack of support, saying a parent’s happiness should not override a child’s life.
What happens next
With both medical clearance and judicial authorization, the procedure will proceed on Thursday. The final decision follows almost two years of legal disputes.
The case has sparked a broad public and legal debate in Spain. It raises questions about autonomy, suffering, and the role of family in end-of-life choices.
