Noelia Castillo Ramos, a 25-year-old woman from Barcelona, died by euthanasia on March 26, 2026, following approval from a Catalan expert committee in July 2024. Castillo Ramos had endured multiple sexual assaults, severe trauma, and chronic health complications that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She had also struggled with psychiatric conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder, since adolescence.
Her father, Geronimo Castillo, challenged the euthanasia decision through several Spanish courts, supported by Catholic advocacy group Abogados Cristianos. The case ultimately reached the European Court of Human Rights, which dismissed the application on March 10, 2026. Final legal attempts were also rejected for lack of jurisdiction.
Mexican Catholic actor Eduardo Verástegui called for prayer vigils outside the hospital, drawing international attention from Catholic communities.
The Catholic Church maintains strong opposition to euthanasia, emphasizing the sanctity of life and advocating palliative care and psychological support for those suffering. Critics argue that Noelia’s history of trauma and mental illness raises serious questions about whether all alternative care options had been fully explored before authorizing her death.
The case has sparked widespread debate among Catholics, with many expressing concern over the precedent set by allowing euthanasia for individuals with complex mental health histories.