Euthanasia Scheduled for 25-Year-Old Gang Rape Survivor with Paralysis

A 25-year-old woman, Noelia Castillo, who has been left paralyzed from a suicide attempt after being gang-raped, is facing euthanasia today in Barcelona.

She will be undergoing the procedure at the Sant Pere de Ribes assisted living center on Thursday, March 26.

The Catalan government's approval for her euthanasia request was granted in July 2024; however, she has faced a lengthy wait of two years as her father sought to prevent the process through court challenges. A recent appeal to the European Court of Human Rights was also unsuccessful this week.

Noelia, confined to a wheelchair since 2022, stated, "I want to go now and stop suffering, period. None of my family supports the idea of euthanasia. But what about all the pain I’ve endured over the years?"

She emphasized that "the happiness of a father, a mother, or a sister cannot outweigh my own suffering."

Noelia invited her family to say their goodbyes but has expressed a desire to be alone during the procedure.

In an interview aired on the Spanish program Y Ahora Sonsoles, she elaborated on how she wishes to spend her last moments: "I want to die looking beautiful. I’ve always thought I want to die looking good. I’ll wear my best dress and put on makeup; it will be something simple."

According to Spanish news reports, Noelia was sexually assaulted by an ex- boyfriend and three other men days before she attempted suicide by jumping from a fifth-floor building in October 2022. This attempt resulted in a severe spinal cord injury that left her unable to move from the waist down and in constant pain, as reported by El Mundo.

Reflecting on the division within her family over her situation, Noelia remarked, "My father witnessed my fall and was helpless to stop it. But after everything he’s done, I no longer feel sympathy for him."

Euthanasia is legal in Spain, albeit under strict conditions. The law permits individuals suffering from a "serious and incurable illness" or a "chronic and disabling" condition to request assistance to die.

However, Noelia’s father claimed that she did not meet these requirements, arguing in court that she suffers from mental disorders that could impair her ability to make a free and informed choice. He also contended that her pain does not constitute "unbearable physical or psychological suffering."

“Why does he want me alive? To keep me in a hospital?” she questioned during the interview.

Her mother participated in the same interview, expressing a desire for a "magic wand" to change her daughter's mind, stating, "I do not agree, but I will always support her."

The euthanasia procedure is anticipated to commence at 5 PM UK time.

In her farewell, Noelia stated, "I’ve finally done it. I hope to finally find peace because I can’t endure this family anymore, the pain, everything that haunts me from my past."

“I don’t aim to be a role model for anyone; this is simply my life, and that is all,” she concluded.