Noelia Castillo Ramos’ case gained international attention after a prolonged legal battle with her father, who opposed her decision
| NEED TO KNOW Noelia Castillo Ramos, 25, pursued voluntary euthanasia after experiencing severe mental health issues after a sexual assault In an interview before her death, she said she “can’t take the pain anymore” and wanted to “leave in peace” Ramos’ case gained international attention after a legal battle with her father, who didn’t agree with her decision and tried to prevent her death |
A young woman has died by voluntary euthanasia after years of suffering with depression.
On Thursday, March 26, Noelia Castillo Ramos — a 25-year-old woman from Barcelona, Spain — ended her life by voluntary euthanasia after a year-long fight for approval in a controversial court case that gained international attention. She died alone, as requested, explaining that her family did not understand her or her decision.
In an interview conducted just days before her death, Ramos said she had no doubts about ending her own life and she simply wanted to “leave in peace” after years of pain.
“I was very clear about it from the beginning,” she told Antena 3.
“None of my family is in favor of euthanasia. Obviously, because I’m another pillar of the family. I’m leaving, and you’re staying here with all the pain,” Ramos explained. “But I think, all the pain I’ve suffered over the years… I just want to leave in peace now and stop suffering. And a father’s, or a mother’s, or a sister’s happiness doesn’t have to come before a daughter’s happiness or sadness of a daughter’s life.”
“I can’t take the pain anymore, I can’t take everything that torments me in my head from what I’ve been through,” she added.
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Over the years, Ramos suffered from depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and borderline personality disorder. This led to her residing in a state-supervised facility for vulnerable youth.
While there, Ramos was raped, she told the Express US. After struggling to cope with the attack, she tried to end her own life by jumping from a fifth-floor window. Ramos survived the suicide attempt in October 2022 but was left paralyzed from the waist down and dealing with chronic pain.
Two years later, Ramos put in a request for an assisted death, which a specialized medical commission unanimously approved in July 2024.
Spain passed a law to legalize both voluntary euthanasia and assisted death in March 2021. The law, which only applies to residents of the country, allows adults with “serious and incurable” diseases that cause “unbearable suffering” to choose to end their lives. They must be able to give informed consent.
Voluntary euthanasia involves a lethal injection administered by a doctor. Assisted death refers to a terminally ill person receiving the lethal drugs from a medical practitioner, which they administer themselves.
