Madrid, March 27, (dpa/GNA) – The death of a young woman by assisted suicide, has sparked consternation and heated debate in Spain, and has also drawn criticism in Germany.
“When a parliament legally permits killing on demand, it fuels social division. The reactions in Spain demonstrate this beyond doubt,” Eugen Brysch, chairman of the German Foundation for Patient Protection, told dpa on Friday.
Noelia Castillo, aged 25, received a lethal injection at a hospital near Barcelona at her own request and against her parents’ wishes. It ended her life immediately.
“There’s no doubt that Noelia Castillo’s fate is tragic,” said Brysch.
The Catalan woman had been paralysed from the waist down, following a suicide attempt after she was sexually assaulted in 2022.
Her young age and the fact that unlike in typical euthanasia cases, psychological suffering following severe trauma played a central role, sparked widespread criticism in Spain, including from conservative politicians and the Church.
Active euthanasia, otherwise called killing on request, has been permitted in Spain since 2021 for adults suffering from incurable conditions, or experiencing unbearable suffering.
In Germany, this practice is a criminal offence. However, the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment is permitted, if it is in accordance with the patient’s wishes.
GNA