On Thursday, Noelia Castillo Ramos underwent euthanasia after a prolonged legal battle. But just days earlier, she reversed an important decision — a change her father’s lawyers claim happened despite what they describe as “pressure from the hospital.”
A life derailed by violence
In 2022, Noelia was violently assaulted while staying at a state‑run facility for vulnerable young people. The trauma pushed her into a crisis, and she attempted to take her own life by jumping from a building.
She survived, but the fall left her paralyzed from the waist down. Her physical condition was irreversible, and her psychological suffering deepened over time. Both her mental and physical health continued to deteriorate.
In 2024, Catalan authorities approved her request for assisted dying. Her euthanasia was scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. local time. Reports indicate the procedure began around 6:30 p.m. and lasted only minutes.
A family divided
The case has sharply divided public opinion — and even her own family. Several relatives tried to stop the process. Her father launched a legal battle to prevent the euthanasia, but the courts ultimately dismissed his appeals.
A major decision reversed
According to reports, Noelia had initially chosen to donate her organs. At just 25, her organs were considered healthy, and medical staff welcomed the possibility of saving multiple lives. Spanish outlet Okdiario reported that she had a life expectancy of around 50 years and that her organs were in good condition.
But when delays emerged in the euthanasia process, the hospital reportedly warned her that her organs could be at risk. After discussions with those around her, she changed her mind. Just days before the procedure, she informed the hospital that she no longer wished to donate.
Her father’s lawyers claim she made this decision despite “pressure from the hospital” to proceed with donation. Polonia Castellanos, president of the Christian Lawyers Foundation — which represented Noelia’s father — said in an interview that the hospital “pushed for euthanasia because her organs were at risk.”
They also raised concerns about potential financial incentives tied to organ donation. Okdiario cited an official document from the Andalusian Health Service outlining compensation structures for hospitals involved in organ and tissue donation. On X, the organization reportedly wrote:
“We ask that, in cases of euthanasia, there be no profit: there may be a conflict of interest. The case of Noelia also opens up a necessary debate on this issue.”
Patients can revoke consent at any time
Spain’s national organ donation protocol is clear: a patient may “revoke consent to donation at any point in the process, without needing to justify it and without affecting their access to assistance in dying.”
Noelia exercised that right — one of the final decisions she made before her death.
