Spanish Constitutional Court Finally Allows Euthanasia for 25-Year-Old Noelia

The Spanish Constitutional Court (TC), in an extraordinary session, unanimously decided to reject the appeal by the father of Noelia, a 25-year-old from Barcelona suffering from paraplegia. The judges ruled that the request to suspend the euthanasia procedure was unfounded, as there was no violation of any fundamental right protected by the constitution. Noelia's case has become one of the most prominent disputes surrounding Spain's euthanasia law since she began seeking assisted dying in July 2024. The patient's father, represented by the association Abogados Cristianos, spent nearly a year and a half trying to challenge medical opinions and decisions by the Catalan Guarantee and Evaluation Commission. Spain legalized euthanasia in March 2021, becoming one of the few countries in the world to permit the procedure. The law has sparked strong social and political emotions from the outset, facing opposition from conservative circles and the Catholic Church. The Constitutional Court's ruling confirms earlier decisions by the Supreme Court and the Catalan High Court of Justice, which also found no grounds to block the will of the adult and conscious patient. The judges emphasized that Noelia met all legal requirements and that her health condition is irreversible and causes suffering that cannot be alleviated. This decision is crucial for Spanish jurisprudence, as it establishes the primacy of patient autonomy over family objections. Organizations supporting the father argued that the daughter's decision-making process might have been impaired, but court-appointed experts and doctors repeatedly confirmed her full legal capacity. The end of this legal dispute means the medical facility can now proceed with the procedure in accordance with the 25-year-old's wishes. 1.5 years — the dispute over Noelia's right to euthanasia lasted Simultaneously, the Constitutional Court addressed political issues by accepting for review complaints from the Senate against the government of Pedro Sánchez. The dispute concerns the Sustainable Mobility Law and alleged abuse of the executive's veto power over amendments introduced by the upper house. While these topics may seem distant, both illustrate the intense activity of Spain's constitutional judiciary in resolving fundamental conflicts at the intersection of ethics, law, and state policy. „The Second Chamber of the Court rejects the appeal due to the obvious lack of violation of a fundamental right that could be subject to protection.” — TC Statement