News - Spain's top court upholds a daughter's right to euthanasia.

In a landmark decision, Spain’s Constitutional Court rejected a father's appeal to halt his 25-year-old daughter's euthanasia procedure, affirming her right to die under Spanish law. This ruling reinforces Spain’s legislation as one of the few in Europe that allow active euthanasia and assisted suicide under strict conditions. The case centers on Noelia, a 25-year-old woman from Barcelona, who was left paraplegic and in chronic pain following a tragic suicide attempt in 2022. Diagnosed with persistent suffering due to paralysis from a fifth-floor fall, her tragic circumstances led her to seek euthanasia, a request approved by a specialized medical commission in early 2024, with the procedure scheduled for later that year. Her father contested the euthanasia approval, arguing that Noelia's mental health struggles compromised her ability to make an informed decision. Despite his appeals, several lower courts upheld Noelia's request for euthanasia, recognizing her rights under Spain’s euthanasia legislation enacted in June 2021, which permits medically assisted death for adults suffering from severe, incurable conditions. The Constitutional Court, in its ruling, upheld these earlier decisions, confirming that no fundamental rights were violated in permitting Noelia's euthanasia. This ruling brings an end to the legal battle in Spain, though Noelia’s father, represented by a Catholic law group, plans to escalate the matter to the European Court of Human Rights, emphasizing their commitment to 'defend her life until the end.' Since the legalization of euthanasia in Spain, the law has seen widespread use. Government statistics indicate that by 2024, 426 individuals legally underwent euthanasia, marking a significant increase since the law’s implementation. This development underscores ongoing debates within Spain, juxtaposing public support against opposition from conservative factions and religious entities who caution against eroding the value of human life.