Noelia Castillo Ramos, one 25-year-old Spanish woman wey dey use wheelchair, don die by euthanasia for Thursday after long legal battle with her papa wey no gree for her decision. The young woman wey become paraplegic after she jump from fifth floor building for 2022 follow sexual assault, don finally rest after court cases wey last for 20 months.
For interview wey she give to Antena 3 TV station before she die, Noelia talk say “I just want to go in peace and stop suffering.” She explain say her papa and family no support her decision, but she believe say her own happiness suppose come first. “The happiness of a father, a mother, or a sister should not be more important than that of a daughter,” she talk for the interview.
Noelia case don become first one wey reach Spanish court since 2021 when Spain legalize euthanasia. The law allow people wey get “serious and incurable illness” or “chronic and disabling” condition to request assistance to die if their mind dey correct. For Noelia situation, Catalonia Guarantee and Evaluation Commission approve her request for July 2024 after dem find say her suffering no fit recover.
But her papa, Geronimo Castillo, with support from conservative Catholic organization Abogados Cristianos (Christian Lawyers), fight the decision for court. He argue say his daughter get mental disorders wey fit affect her ability to make free decision. The case go reach Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, and even European Court of Human Rights, but all dem reject the papa appeal.
Noelia life don dey hard since childhood. Her parents divorce when she small, and she begin receive psychiatric treatment from age 13. She enter foster care and suffer two sexual assaults, including gang rape by three boys for 2022. Days after the second assault, she try to kill herself by jumping from building, wey leave her paralysed from waist down.
The young woman talk say she dey experience constant pain wey make sleeping difficult. She also get diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Despite her family opposition, Noelia insist say her decision na free and informed one. “None of my family is in favor of euthanasia,” she talk. “I am a pillar of the family. I leave them suffering. But what about my suffering?”
For the final moments, Noelia choose to die alone with only doctor wey go administer the injection. Her mama, Yolanda Ramos, spend last night with her for Sant Camil Hospital near Barcelona but talk say she no support euthanasia. “I am not in favour of euthanasia, of course I am not in favour, but I will always be by her side until the very last moment,” the mama talk.
Spanish euthanasia law begin work for June 2021, make Spain become fourth European Union country to legalize assisted dying. According to health ministry figures, 1,123 people don receive assistance to die for Spain from 2021 reach end of 2024. The law require applicants to be over 18 years with “chronic or invalidating suffering.”
Noelia case don spark debate across Spain and Europe about right to die. Conservative groups like Abogados Cristianos talk say her death na “failure” of healthcare system. Jose Maria Fernandez, lawyer for the group, talk say “She should have received treatment for her mental illnesses” instead of euthanasia.
But euthanasia advocates argue say the law give dignity to people wey dey suffer. Cristina Valles, president of Derecho a Morir Dignamente (Right to Die With Dignity) group for Catalonia, talk say appeals process dey too long and need amendment. She talk say attempts to block Noelia euthanasia “left us very angry and concerned.”
The case don also highlight similar debates for other European countries. For Netherlands, psychiatrist Dr. Menno Oosterhoff dey face scrutiny after helping teenagers with mental health issues end their lives legally. One 17-year-old girl named Milou Verhoof wey get raped at age 13 die by euthanasia with Oosterhoff assistance for October 2023.
For Netherlands, euthanasia cases based on psychological suffering don increase from 88 for 2020 to 219 for 2024. Over past five years, doctors don carry out euthanasia for psychiatric reasons for 675 cases, more than total for previous 18 years combined. The country allow medically assisted suicide since 2002 for patients wey make “voluntary and well considered” requests.
Noelia final interview show her determination despite family opposition. She talk say “I’ve always thought I want to die beautiful. I’ll put on my prettiest dress and make-up.” She die for Sant Pere de Ribes hospital near Barcelona around 6pm Thursday local time, ending years of physical and mental suffering.
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