Authorities approve the euthanasia of a young woman from Barcelona, as requested by her father, halting the legal proceedings.
The Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) has upheld a judge's decision to authorise euthanasia for a 24-year-old woman named Noelia. This ruling comes after a legal appeal by Noelia's father, represented by the ultra-Catholic association Abogados Cristianos.
The court's decision opens a new avenue for family members to seek justice and halt an euthanasia procedure. However, it does not guarantee that a judicial decision will be in the family's favour.
Medical reports support Noelia's decision-making capacity for euthanasia. Various reports agree that she meets all the requirements for the procedure. The court acknowledges the fundamental right to life but states that it lacks arguments to affirm that Noelia does not meet the basic elements required for euthanasia.
Noelia's father lives in a socio-health centre and has not lived with his family for years. A written statement claiming a change of opinion by Noelia was presented, but she stated during the proceedings that the report was falsified. The handwritten statement with unclear origins has not been ratified by its author.
The tribunal does not consider the handwritten statement an admissible change of opinion due to the author's uncertainty about its production. Christian Lawyers have welcomed the TSJC's recognition of family members' right to appeal an euthanasia decision when they disagree with its approval.
Since April 2024, Noelia has maintained her decision for a dignified death. The law currently does not provide any avenue for appeal when euthanasia is authorised; it only allows for appeal when it is rejected. No information about the organisation representing Noelia's father in the court case to prevent euthanasia in Barcelona is available in the search results.
The family's judicial action could delay the execution of Noelia's euthanasia agreement. The magistrates recognise their role in protecting the fundamental right to life, but they do not guarantee that a judicial decision will be in the family's favour. The TSJC's decision marks a significant step in the ongoing debate about the right to die with dignity in Spain.
