Spain court rules: Families can challenge euthanasia approvals.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Noelia Castillo

An article by Alex Trelinski that was published by The Olive Press in Spain reported that on June 24, 2026 the Spanish Supreme Court ruled that families can legally challenge a euthanasia approval.

Trelinski reported that following the euthanasia death of Noelia Castillo, 25 that the Supreme Court decided with a 23 to 9 vote that parents can challenge a euthanasia approval of a family member. The report stated that:

In its ruling, the Supreme Court specifies that those who appeal the granting of euthanasia must be part of the applicant’s closest living circle.

They must possess, according to the ruling, ‘a sufficient capacity for knowledge and empathy with them to be able, if necessary, to detect possible flaws in the understanding and comprehension of the situation in which the applicant finds themselves’.

The court says they can challenge a decision when they demonstrate a special affective closeness with the person requesting euthanasia and provide a reasonable indication of proof over a possible breach of legal guarantees.

The Spanish Supreme Court has enabled some effective oversight of the law, as close family members will have the insight and relationship to question decisions by doctors when the approve the killing of a close family member.

The Spanish Supreme Court decision grants rights to Spanish family members that does not exist in Canada.

In September 2020 a Taryn Grant reported for CBC News Nova Scotia that a man who has received conflicting assessments for MAiD (euthanasia) and whose wife of 48 years says is delusional about his medical condition, can go ahead and die by euthanasia. The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) enabled the plaintiff (wife) to challenge her husband's euthanasia approval. Grant reported:

A Nova Scotia Court of Appeal judge has upheld a lower court decision that effectively allows a man to go ahead with a medically assisted death, in spite of his wife's efforts to stop him.

The 83-year-old man from Bridgewater, N.S., was assessed by physicians and approved for medical assistance in dying (MAID) earlier this year, but his wife, Katherine, 82, filed for an injunction with the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, forcing him to cancel his plans.

In early 2024 there was a case in Calgary AB concerning a 27-year-old autistic woman who lived with her family and had been approved for death by euthanasia. Her father challenged the approval to kill his daughter and claimed that, based on the law, she does not qualify to be killed by euthanasia.

CBC News reported on March 12, 2024 on the Calgary court case that the father stated that his daughter did not have a medical condition that qualified, under the law, and yet his daughter had already been approved for death by lethal poison.

CBC News reporter, Meghan Grant reported on March 25, 2024 that Justice Feasby ruled that the 27-year-old daughter can die by euthanasia despite her father's concerns. Justice Feasby withdrew the temporary injunction that prevented the woman from dying by euthanasia but maintained a 30 day stay of the injunction, which gave the father time to appeal the decision.

On April 2, 2024, Kevin Martin reported for the Calgary Herald that the father of the 27-year-old autistic woman appealed the decision to the Alberta Court of Appeal.

On April 8, Justice Anne Kirker ordered a stay on the injunction to prevent the death of the 27-year-old autistic woman until after the appeal was heard. The date of the appeal is not known but will likely be heard in October.

The EPC sought and received intervention standing in the case, but the appeal was never heard.

The EPC has been contacted by many family members who are concerned about the euthanasia approval or death of a loved one. Currently there is no legal precedent in Canada t0 enable families members to challenge a euthanasia death approval.

It is only just to enable close family members to challenge a approvals for euthanasia based on a clear understanding of that person's physical and mental health.

Spanish woman (25) who became paralyzed after a suicide attempt is killed by euthanasia.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Noelia Castillo

I am saddened by the death of Noelia Castillo (25) who was killed by euthanasia on March 27. Some reports stated that organ procurement followed her death.

Castillo was approved for euthanasia in July 2024 based on partial paraplegia that was caused by her suicide attempt in October 2022. Castillo stated that her suicide attempt was related to being sexually assaulted.

Castillo was also diagnosed with significant psychiatric issues. Christian Caraballo reported for Euronews that:

Psychiatric reports indicate that the young woman has chronic depressive symptoms and an adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, but rule out a major depressive disorder that would impair her decision-making capacity. She has also been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder.

The father of Noelia Castillo challenged the euthanasia approval all the way up to the European Court of Human Rights.

Noelia Castillo was originally scheduled to be killed by euthanasia on August 2 but a judge suspended the death until a higher court could hear the case after her father challenged her approval for euthanasia.

On August 8, 2024, I reported that the father of a 23 year-old Spanish woman, (Noelia Castillo) challenged in court the approval of euthanasia for his daughter. The father argued in court that his daughter, who was living with partial paralysis, lacked the capacity to decide to be killed by euthanasia. Castillo became paralyzed after a suicide attempt.

On March 17, 2025 I reported that a Spanish court rejected an appeal by the father of Castillo his 24-year-old paraplegic daughter, who had been approved to be killed by euthanasia. An article published by Agence France-Presse reported that:

The father argued that his daughter suffered from mental disorders that "could affect her ability to make a free and conscious decision" as required by law.

He also said there were indications his daughter had changed her mind and that her ailment did not entail "unbearable physical or psychological suffering".

The article reported that the court decision decided that the woman met the conditions for euthanasia, which was legalised in the European country in 2021.

Laia Galiá reported for the Spanish ARA news on April 3, 2025 that a second challenge to a euthanasia approval would be heard by a Spanish Court. Galiá reported that the first decision was appealed by the Prosecutor's Office and Castillo's father. The case was referred to the High Court of Justice (TSJC)

On February 20, 2026 Reuters reported that Noelia Castillo who become disabled after an attempted suicide has been once again approved to be killed by euthanasia after Spain's Constitutional Court rejected the appeal by Castillo's father.

The case was then referred to the European Court of Human Rights who rejected the appeal on March 10, 2026.

The human rights of people with disabilities are on the line. People with disabilities who are living with suicidal ideation can be killed by lethal poison based on being disabled. 

Castillo needed time and encouragement to accept the value of living with a disability.

A study published by Nature.com found that:

Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury SCI are at risk of attempting suicide; this risk is increased by the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis. There is a crucial need for risk assessment and psychological intervention for individuals with mental health issues following SCI.The Spanish euthanasia law is similar to the Canadian euthanasia law since it only requires that a person has "a serious chronic and disabling illness."

Euthanasia is not a treatment for people experiencing suicidal ideation, but rather supportive and life-affirming programs. Euthanasia was not a form of freedom for Noelia Castillo but was and abandoned to death.

The Spanish euthanasia law is similar to Canada's law which allows people with mental illness to be killed, if they have another health condition. People with disabilities who are live with mental illness are not protected from euthanasia, even when they have suicidal ideation.

Spanish court approves euthanasia for a woman who became disabled after surviving a suicide.

Father attempted to prevent the euthanasia death of his daughter based on her mental health.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director,
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Reuters reported on February 20, 2026 that a woman who become disabled after an attempted suicide has been approved to be killed by euthanasia. The Reuters report states:

According to legal rulings, the woman, who is suffering from a psychiatric illness, attempted suicide several times by overdosing on medication before jumping from a fifth‑floor window in October 2022, an act that left her paraplegic and in chronic pain.

 

In July 2024, a specialised expert committee in her region, Catalonia, approved her request for euthanasia. The procedure was scheduled for August 2, 2024, but her father has blocked it ever since.

On Friday 20 February, Spain’s Constitutional Court rejected an appeal by her father to prevent the woman from ending her life by euthanasia.

The case will likely be referred to the European Court of Human Rights.

This case will determine if a person who needs treatment for mental health and suicidal ideation can be approved to be killed by euthanasia.

The woman qualified for euthanasia based on her physical disability. The Spanish law does not require the person to have a terminal diagnosis. Nonetheless, she became disabled from her attempted suicide that her father has argued was based on her mental health issues. 

Spanish euthanasia deaths increased by almost 30% in 2024.

The Spanish euthanasia report that was published in December 2025 indicated that 426 people were killed by euthanasia in Spain in 2024, a 27.5% increase from 334 people in 2023.

The total number of people who have been poisoned to death by euthanasia increased by almost 48% since 2022, the first full year after legalization.

Euthanasia is an act whereby a person who is deemed eligible is intentionally poisoned to death by a medical practitioner.

More articles on this topic:

• Spanish euthanasia deaths increase by 27.5% (Read). 
• Spanish courts will consider a second case challenging a euthanasia approval (Read).

Spanish 2024 euthanasia deaths increase by 27.5%

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Spanish euthanasia report was published in December 2025 indicates that 426 people were killed by euthanasia in Spain in 2024, a 27.5% increase from 334 people who were killed by euthanasia in 2023. 

The total number of people who have been poisoned to death by euthanasia has increased by almost 48% since 2022, the first full year after its legalization.

Euthanasia was legalized in Spain in March 2021. Euthanasia is an act whereby a person who is deemed eligible is intentionally poisoned to death by a medical practitioner.

Unlike in some jurisdictions, there is no requirement for a six or twelve-month terminal prognosis eligibility for euthanasia in Spain. 

In 2024, the most underlying medical condition for those who applied for an assisted death was: 302 people had a neurological condition, 276 people had a form of cancer, with conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory issues, making up the remainder.

Spain has an appeal process for when the medical practitioner decides that a person doesn't qualify for euthanasia. In 2023,188 people whose request to be killed by euthanasia was denied, 78 of those people appealed the decision with 32 cases (41%) overturning the decision and allowing them to be killed. In 2024, 157 people who requested to be killed by euthanasia were denied with 75 of those people appealing the decision resulting in 20 (26.67%) of the decisions being overturned allowing them to be killed by euthanasia.

Spain has already expanded the original euthanasia law and they have discussed expanding the law to include people with mental illness. An article published by Exaudi news stated:

The Ministry of Health has met with the autonomous communities to agree on the reform of the Manual of Good Practices on Euthanasia to include mental illness as a reason for requesting it.

The draft of the Organic Law on the Regulation of Euthanasia (LORE) indicates that euthanasia “does not exclude mental illness, allowing people with an unbearable suffering due to the presence of a mental illness to request the Aid to Dying Benefit (PAM) on equal terms with those whose suffering comes from a somatic illness”.

In addition, the text states that “a comprehensive psychopathological evaluation is required to identify those people who could benefit from the PAM due to a mental disorder due to the presence of a serious, chronic and disabling illness or a serious and incurable psychiatric illness”.

Likewise, it is necessary to “discard those people who present mild or moderate symptoms of depression or anxiety, since these conditions are susceptible to treatment and improvement, excluding them from access to PAM.”

Exaudi listed some expansions of the Spanish euthanasia law that have already happened:

Since 2023 three modifications were already proposed:

1. To stop protecting the pharmacist’s right to object to euthanasia in the event that the master formulation or the preparation of drug kits is necessary to administer euthanasia, and to reserve the objection to the health personnel directly involved in that practice.

2. To create the figure of the reference nurse in euthanasia, since in most cases the nurse is in charge of supplying the medication to the patient.

3. To establish the nature of the Manual of Good Practices of Euthanasia, because for some experts it is a standard, but for others it is not.

Similar to nearly every jurisdiction, once euthanasia and/or assisted suicide are legalized the laws will soon be expanded. The original legislation is designed to pass in the legislature, but once legal the arguments immediately arise that the law is being applied in a discriminatory manner and must be expanded. Spain has had the same phenomenon.

Spanish courts will consider a second case challenging euthanasia approval.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Laia Galiá reported for the Spanish ARA news on April 3, 2025 that a second challenge to a euthanasia approval will be heard by a Spanish Court.

On March 17, 2025 I reported that a Spanish court rejected an appeal by a father to prevent the euthanasia death of his 24-year-old paraplegic daughter. The article reported that the woman, known as Noelia, who was injured in a suicide attempt, was scheduled to die by euthanasia in August 2024 when her father achieved a court injunction to prevent the death. The March 17 decision stated that the woman met the conditions for euthanasia.

Galiá reported that the first decision (Noelia) has been appealed by the Prosecutor's Office and her father. The case has been referred to the High Court of Justice (TSJC)

In the second case (Francisco case) the Judge has determined that the family has the right to challenge the euthanasia approval. Galiá reported:

The High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) has issued its first ruling in the legal debate that in recent months has called into question the right to assisted dying. In the opinion of Catalonia's highest court, a patient's family may be entitled to bring a euthanasia procedure to court even if the applicant already has the approval of the committee of experts charged with studying and validating or rejecting these requests.

Unlike the first case, in the Francisco case it has only been determined that the father can challenge the euthanasia approval whereas in Noelia's case, a judge already decided that she met the requirements of the law. Galiá reported:

In contrast, in Francisco's case, the judge has so far only assessed the father's legitimacy to intercede, and the High Court of Justice (TSJC) is ordering her to assess all the evidence. In fact, the judges point out that their ruling does not imply that the family's requests must be accepted. They only rule, they say, on the parents' legitimacy to intervene judicially to request a halt to a euthanasia procedure.

The Spanish euthanasia law is similar to the Canadian euthanasia law since it only requires that a person has "a serious chronic and disabling illness."

Spain's euthanasia law should be challenged based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Spain court refuses to prevent young woman's euthansia death.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Agence France-Presse reported on March 17 that a Spanish court rejected an appeal by a father who tried to stop his 24-year-old paraplegic daughter's euthanasia death.

Decisions, like this one, emphasize how the euthanasia laws undermine the lives of people with disabilities.

According to the article, the 24-year-old woman, who was injured in a suicide attempt, was scheduled to die by euthanasia in August 2024 when her father achieved a court injunction to prevent the death. The article stated that:

The father argued that his daughter suffered from mental disorders that "could affect her ability to make a free and conscious decision" as required by law.

He also said there were indications his daughter had changed her mind and that her ailment did not entail "unbearable physical or psychological suffering".

The article reported that the court decision that was decided on Friday but released on Monday (March 17) stated:

the woman met the conditions for euthanasia, which was legalised in the European country in 2021.

"All the professionals who have intervened in the process agree that... she suffers a serious, chronic and disabling illness, without any contradictory tests having been performed," the judge wrote.

The Spanish euthanasia law is similar to the Canadian euthanasia law since it only requires that a person has "a serious chronic and disabling illness."

Spains euthanasia law should be challenged based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Spanish judge prevents euthanasia of 23-year-old woman.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

On August 8 I reported that the father of a 23 year-old woman, in Spain, has challenged in court the approval of euthanasia for his daughter. The father argued in the court that his daughter, who is living with a partial paralysis, lacked the capacity to decide to be killed by euthanasia.

The woman was scheduled to be killed by euthanasia on August 2 but the judge suspended the death until a higher court can hear the case.

Faharas.net reported on August 15 that the same judge has recently suspended the death of another person, a man (54) who has had three strokes and two heart attacks. Both cases were brought to court by family members who questioned the euthanasia approval.

Christian Daily reported on August 15 that the judge suspended the euthanasia death of the 23-year-old woman because, as stated:

"I do not consider that there is a serious, chronic and disabling condition which, as the law describes, is the situation that refers to limitations that directly affect the physical autonomy and activities of daily living,”

It appears that the parameters of the Spanish law will be determined, over time, by the courts.

Spanish court to decide if 23 year old woman dies by euthanasia.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Spanish media reported today that the father of a 23 year-old woman has challenged in court the approval of euthanasia for his daughter. An article published by ACI Prensa (google translated) reported that:

The Spanish courts are currently maintaining the suspension of the execution of a euthanasia procedure on a 23-year-old girl that was to be carried out on August 2, pending the intervention of higher authorities.

The father of the young woman, aged 23, urged the suspension of euthanasia because his daughter does not have the capacity to “make decisions freely, consciously and informed” due to “mental disorders, which include suicidal ideation, paranoid ideas and bipolar disorder” as reflected in the petition for precautionary measures.

ACI Prensa reported that:

The young woman, who lacks full mobility in her legs as a result of a suicide attempt in 2022, suffers from a “borderline personality disorder” as well as an “obsessive-compulsive” type of disorder.

The Spanish case is similar to the Calgary case of the father of the 27-year-old autistic woman who successfully challenged the planned euthanasia of his daughter. (Article Link).

Canary Islands: 10 euthanasia deaths since Spain legalized euthanasia.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Canary Islands News reported on December 21 that there were 10 euthanasia deaths on the islands since Spain legalized euthanasia in June 2021. The Canary Islands are part of Spain but located off the coast of northwestern Africa.

The Canary Island news also stated that Spain's Ministry of Health reported that in 2022 there were 576 requests for euthanasia and 288 euthanasia deaths. From June 2021 until December 31, 2021 there were 173 requests and 75 deaths by euthanasia in Spain.

In August 2022, Marin Sabau, a 46-year-old Romanian man who was awaiting trial for allegedly shooting 5 people, including a police officer, at a Securitas office in Tarragona Spain in December 2021, avoided trial by being approved and dying by euthanasia. Sabau was approved for euthanasia based on an injury from a shot in the spine by a police sharp-shooter, before being apprehended.

The euthanasia lobby published a report in June 2023 pressuring the Spanish government to further expand its euthanasia law.

Spain has 370 euthanasia deaths in the first 18 months since law came into effect

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Spain euthanasia protest.

Chris King reported for Euro weekly news on June 22 that there were 370 euthanasia deaths in Spain since the euthanasia law came into effect on June 25, 2021.

King reported that a Spanish euthanasia lobby group recently published a report on the number of euthanasia deaths, with recommendations to make it easier to kill people by euthanasia in Spain.

King reported the euthanasia group as stating in their press conference:

DMD has painstakingly collected all the information possible to evaluate its implementation, identify failures and successes, and propose ways of improvement since the law was implemented.

As explained in a press conference held by DMD spokesmen Fernando Marín and Fernando Sanz, of these 370 cases, ‘probably more than 1,000 requested it’.

‘This is good news, and the verification that it was a necessary norm. It is to be expected that the number will grow in the coming years, as this right is consolidated among citizens and the response of the health services improves’, they highlighted.

King reported the following data collected by the euthanasia group:

Specifically, of the 295 euthanasias performed in Spain in 2022, 13 occurred in Navarra (0.206 per cent of deaths); 91 in Catalonia (0.128 per cent); four in La Rioja (0.115 per cent); 24 in the Basque Country (0.101 per cent); six in Cantabria (0.085 per cent); and 38 in Madrid (0.076per cent).

Another nine were carried out in Asturias (0.064 per cent); six in the Balearic Islands (0.063 per cent); ten in the Canary Islands (0.053 per cent); eight in Aragon (0.052 per cent); 26 in the Valencian Community (0.051 per cent); eight in Castilla-La Mancha (0.038 per cent); 29 in Andalucia (0.036 per cent); ten in Castilla y León (0.031 per cent); three in Extremadura (0.024 per cent); eight in Galicia (0.022per cent); and two in Murcia (0.015 per cent).

The euthanasia group complained that conscientious objectors are not referring people for euthanasia, as required by the law, and that the assessment period was often taking 50 days.

The euthanasia lobby group stated that the euthanasia rate will increase as it is further promoted and normalized within the medical system.

In August 2022, Marin Sabau, a 46-year-old Romanian man who was awaiting trial for allegedly shooting 5 people, including a police officer, at a Securitas office in Tarragona Spain in December 2021, avoided trial by dying by euthanasia. Sabau was approved for euthanasia after being injured when he was shot in the spine by a police sharp-shooter, before he was apprehended.

Spain, like Canada, succumbs to euthanasia as "medical care"

Gordon Friesen

By Gordon Friesen
President of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

For years, going back to the original Canadian definition of euthanasia (Quebec 2014), I have been dramatically proclaiming that "Our country, and our country alone has explicitly defined euthanasia as medical care". Unfortunately, it seems that this shocking statement has actually been out of date for over a year. For there is a relatively new law in Spain (2021) which does everything that Quebec law does, and then some.

The truly tragic significance of this event lies in the fact that Canada can no longer be written off as one embarrassing aberration. The wild-eyed international pariah which slammed the door on its way out of the World Medical Association in 2018, now has a friend. A second "civilized" nation will now join her in promoting death, not as a mere choice, but as a medically indicated treatment. And the normalization of that pernicious idea will both be strengthened within Canada, and gain a new clout beyond our borders.

Why the medical definition of euthanasia matters

One of several logical results of according medical status to euthanasia is to guarantee the death of huge numbers of incapable patients (and perhaps of incapable patients as an entire class), subject only to vague notions of "suffering".

And that is because we cannot ethically withhold a positive benefit from people just because they are old, or young, or cognitively disabled, or unconscious! If any such person breaks an arm, it is our duty to set the bone in that arm. And in exactly the same manner, if euthanasia is defined as appropriate care then that care must be provided, whether the patient be capable of consent, or no.

One might, of course, vigorously object to this statement, and even point to the fact that full age, and full capability, are the very first criteria of eligibility in both Canadian, and Spanish law. However, if anyone believes that those requirements will stand the test of time and litigation, I have swamp land that I would like to sell to that person.

In fact, there isn't even any serious attempt to hide future intentions! The brand-new Spanish law already provides an exception to its own first principle, in allowing euthanasia by advance directive. For whatever else one might say: it is an obvious fact that the person killed by advance directive is not capable of consent.

So, how long will we pretend that it is logically ethical to kill one incapable patient, but not another in the next bed, perhaps in a greater state of decline and discomfort than the roommate? Is this not merely a question of recognizing standard protocols of substituted consent? We already apply these protocols in all other life-critical circumstances. So, again: how long will we agree to pretend that it is ethical to remove food, water, and even air (by substituted consent) but not ethical to provide euthanasia?

Infanticide

Another particularly striking example concerns children. It is now the position officially presented by representatives of the Quebec College of Physicians and Surgeons, that children from 0-1 years of age should be eligible for euthanasia, subject only to parental consent. Is that not also perfectly logical? And why stop at one year? Removal of hydration and ventilation is allowed for older children. Why not euthanasia as well?

Bait and Switch

It may come as a surprise, then, to many citizens of Spain, wishing perhaps to provide voluntary options of free choice, to learn that they have actually produced a law which implicitly requires the mass evacuation of so-called "incapable patients", including but not limited to infanticide until one year, and dementia in the elderly. But that, as Canadian experience shows, is exactly where Spanish law will lead.

And if not, why not? Why would these fatal legal dominoes fall any differently in their land than in ours?

The bottom line

Perhaps in a further article I will have an opportunity to go through the two laws, point by point, to show exactly how the Spanish version permits everything already seen in Canada (even providing one or two "improvements" on the Canadian theme).

Nor is it incapable patients, alone, who will pay the price!

In this piece, however, my goal has simply been to announce this terrible first news: Our abominable Canadian interpretation of euthanasia, as standard medical care, has now officially "gone viral".

Gordon Friesen is a disabled individual who has followed the assisted death question closely since the early 1990s, and is currently President of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.

Man who shot a Spanish police officer will avoid trial and die by euthanasia.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

An article by Stephen Burgen for the Guardian reports that Marin Eugen Sabau, a 46-year-old Romanian man who is awaiting trial for injuring 5 people after shooting them at a Securitas office in Tarragona Spain last December will avoid his trial because he has been approved to die by euthanasia. Sabau was shot in the spine by a police sharp-shooter.

Burgen reports:

The national court in Tarragona upheld an earlier court ruling that, given his condition, Sabau had a right to euthanasia under a law passed last year. The court said the law had not anticipated a situation in which a person facing criminal charges might request assisted dying.

Sabau requested euthanasia based on the fact that his injury from being shot in the spine enabled him to qualify for euthanasia in Spain.

The lawyer for Jose Antonio Bitos, one of the injured officers, argued that Sabau should not avoid his trial or conviction by euthanasia. The lawyer appealed the lower court ruling permitting Sabau's death by euthanasia. The national court upheld the lower court decision.

I am very concerned with the direction of the Spanish euthanasia law. The court stated that euthanasia is a fundamental right. If euthanasia is a fundamental right, then all of the restrictions in the law will someday be removed from the law. You cannot limit a fundamental right.

Spain: Police shooter to avoid trial after his euthanasia death was approved.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

A shooter in Spain who was seriously injured when he was arrested last December for shooting three fellow workers and two police officers may avoid trial for his crimes through euthanasia.

Murcia today reported:

A court in Barcelona has green-lighted the assisted death request of Marin Eugen Sabau, a 46-year-old Romanian man who is awaiting trial for injuring 5 people after opening fire at a Securitas office in Tarragona last December.

According to Spanish News Today:

Last December, the 46-year-old Romanian man entered the Securitas offices from which he had recently been let go and opened fire, seriously injuring two other workers and the manager. While fleeing the scene, he shot an officer manning a checkpoint before locking himself into a deserted farmhouse. Police surrounded the property and when the gunman opened fire, a shoot-out ensured.

The man was critically injured... with an irreversible spinal chord injury.

Sabau requested euthanasia based on the fact that people in his condition qualify for euthanasia in Spain.

The lawyer for Jose Antonio Bitos, one of the injured officers, argued that Sabau should not avoid his trial or conviction by euthanasia. Murcia today reported that the lawyer will present a new appeal to the Provincial court and that the lawyer tends to appeal the decision, even up to the Constitutional court.

Spain: 180 euthanasia deaths in the first year of the law.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Spain's Minister of Health Carolina Darias announced last Friday that there were 180 euthanasia deaths in the first year since legalization.

The SUR news in English stated:

During the event, which included a screening of the short 'El viaje a Islandia', by César Vallejo de Castro, the Minister stressed that when patients request euthanasia, the medical teams make sure that they fulfil all the criteria, are fully aware of what they are asking and are exercising their right without coming under pressure from anyone else.

'El viaje a Islandia' is a short film that promotes euthanasia. Therefore the Minister of Health decided to promote more euthanasia rather than simply announce the first year data.

Spain operates its law in a tighter manner than Canada. In Spain every euthanasia death is approved by a committee rather than the decision being made by to two pro-euthanasia medical practitioners, as is done in Canada.

7 Spaniards who were euthanised last year donated their organs

This article was published by Bioedge on January 28, 2022.

By Michael Cook, Editor of Bioedge.

Well, that didn’t take long, did it?

Spain legalised euthanasia on June 25 last year and already transplant surgeons are using organs from euthanised patients. According to a report in the Spanish magazine Redaccíon Médica, 7 patients donated their organs – even though the government has still not release national guidelines for such procedures.

Why the rush?

The head of Spain’s National Transplant Organization (ONT), Beatriz Domínguez-Gil, said that the ONT “intuited” [sic] that some euthanasia patients would like to donate their organs. It quickly drafted some guidelines for transplant coordinators so that euthanasia donation could be “normalised” throughout the country.

Every case has to be treated very delicately, says Sra Domínguez-Gil. If a euthanasia patient wants to donate, he has to do it in a hospital setting, and not at home.

She emphasized that the decision to donate and to provide aid in dying must be “independent”. “Totally independent professionals participate. The provision of aid in dying is channeled and then the donation is considered,” she says.

No official figures have been released, but the ABC, a national newspaper estimated that about 50 people had been euthanised in 2021. To have persuaded 7 out of those 50 to donate their organs – 14% — is an amazing achievement.

Article: At least 50 Spanish euthanasia deaths in the first six months (Link).

At least 50 Spanish euthanasia deaths in the first six months of the law

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

An article published by Spark Chronicles indicates that since legalizing euthanasia on June 25, 2021, Spain has had at least 50 euthanasia deaths and 130 requests.

The article states that data from 10 out of the 17 autonomous regions in Spain indicated that the majority of the euthanasia deaths have been for neurodegenerative or oncological diseases and out of 130 known applications, (74%) were approved and approximately half of the applicants died before the euthanasia could be done.

Spain's euthanasia law is oriented toward approving euthanasia for people with disabilities. Spain approves euthanasia for:

“serious, chronic and debilitating conditions or serious, incurable diseases causing intolerable suffering”

The data confirms my concerns related to euthanasia for people with disabilities. Spark reported:

In the Basque Country of the 13 euthanized patients, seven suffered from chronic diseases causing permanent disability such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, or muscular dystrophy, while others had terminal cancer.

The article also states that several Spanish regions do not permit euthanasia. According to the Spark:

In some autonomous regions, such as Andalusia, euthanasia rights organizations claim that this right is not exercised due to “lack of political will”.

According to one of them, 12 assisted death applications have been received in the region, but none have been processed so far.

The article also states that several regions did not provide information about the number of euthanasia deaths.

Based on the language of Spain's euthanasia law, unless repealed, it is likely that Spain will have a higher percentage of euthanasia deaths of people who live with disabilities than other jurisdictions that have legalized euthanasia.

Euthanasia is not about a freedom to die, but rather it is about abandoning people at their time of need. We need a caring culture, not one that kills.

Spanish Parliament passes euthanasia bill. Law may be challenged to Spain's Constitutional Court.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Spanish parliament passed the euthanasia bill with a vote of 202 to 141 (2 abstentions). The Vox party has stated that it will challenge the euthanasia law before Spain's Constitutional court.

On March 15, Portugal's Constitutional Court rejected a similar euthanasia bill that was passed by Portugal's parliament on January 29.

The lower house approved the bill even after the Spanish Bioethics Committee unanimously rejected the proposed bill in their October 6 report which stated:

The bill is invalid not only because it decriminalizes euthanasia as an exception to the general rule requiring life to be protected, but also because it recognizes death as a right that can be incorporated into the list of public health benefits, the committee noted.

The CBE pointed out that “a person’s desire for a third party or the state itself to end his life, directly or indirectly, in those cases of great physical and/or mental suffering, must always be viewed with compassion and met with effective compassionate action leading to the prevention of pain and a peaceful death.”

"Legalizing euthanasia and/or assisted suicide entails setting out on a path toward the devaluation of the protection of human life whose boundaries are very difficult to foresee, as the experience of our circumstances shows us.”

The committee stressed that “euthanasia and/or assisted suicide are not signs of progress but rather a regression of civilization, since in a context in which the value of human life is often conditioned by criteria of social utility, economic interests, family responsibilities and the burden to the public or public spending, the legalization of early death would add a new set of problems.”

Euthanasia is wrong because it permits the killing of people, nonetheless, the disability community in Spain needs to strongly speak up. This legislation threatens their lives.

Spain's lower house approves euthanasia bill. Spain's Senate will now debate the bill.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coaliton

Spain's lower house passed the euthanasia bill by a vote of 198 to 138 (2 abstained) on Thursday December 17. According to Spain's parliamentary news  (google translated):

The Plenary of Congress approved today, Thursday, December 17, the Organic Law Proposal to regulate euthanasia with 198 votes in favor, 138 against and 2 abstentions in a joint vote as required by Article 81 of the Constitution and 131 of the Congress Regulations, which also establishes the necessary absolute majority for its approval and thus continue its processing in the Senate.

Likewise, the opinion sent by the Justice Commission has been approved with the incorporation of the technical corrections of the Socialist and Confederal GPs of Unidos Podemos-En Comú Podem-Galicia en Común approved in plenary session, with 198 votes in favor, 138 against and 2 abstentions.

This Organic Law Proposition, promoted by the Socialist Parliamentary Group, introduces euthanasia as a new individual right into the legal system, understood as "the action that produces the death of a person directly and intentionally through a single cause-effect relationship. and immediate, at the informed, express and reiterated request of said person over time, and which is carried out in a context of suffering due to an incurable disease or condition that the person experiences as unacceptable and that has not been able to be mitigated by others media".

Spanish euthanasia protest

The Spanish El Pais reports that the bill approves euthanasia and assisted suicide.

The text of the bill talks about “serious, chronic and debilitating conditions or serious, incurable diseases causing intolerable suffering” as valid causes for requesting life-ending assistance. While the document does not use the term “assisted suicide,” it contemplates “the direct administration to a patient of a substance by the relevant healthcare professional,” in other words euthanasia, or “supplying a patient with a substance that can be self-administered to cause death,” meaning medically assisted suicide. The procedure may be carried out at public or private health centers, or at the patient’s home, according to the bill.

The lower house approved the bill even after the Spanish Bioethics Committee unanimously rejected the proposed bill in their October 6 report:

The bill is invalid not only because it decriminalizes euthanasia as an exception to the general rule requiring life to be protected, but also because it recognizes death as a right that can be incorporated into the list of public health benefits, the committee noted.

The CBE pointed out that “a person’s desire for a third party or the state itself to end his life, directly or indirectly, in those cases of great physical and/or mental suffering, must always be viewed with compassion and met with effective compassionate action leading to the prevention of pain and a peaceful death.”

"Legalizing euthanasia and/or assisted suicide entails setting out on a path toward the devaluation of the protection of human life whose boundaries are very difficult to foresee, as the experience of our circumstances shows us.”

The committee stressed that “euthanasia and/or assisted suicide are not signs of progress but rather a regression of civilization, since in a context in which the value of human life is often conditioned by criteria of social utility, economic interests, family responsibilities and the burden to the public or public spending, the legalization of early death would add a new set of problems.”

Euthanasia is wrong because it permits the killing of people, nonetheless, the disability community in Spain needs to strongly speak up. This legislation threatens their lives.

Spain may legalize euthanasia for the terminally ill and people with disabilities in 2021.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

In February 2020 the Spanish parliament voted 203 to 140 (2 abstained) to continue debating a bill to legalize euthanasia in Spain. Reuters stated:

“We’re talking about clearly debilitating diseases without a cure, without a solution and which cause significant suffering,” government spokeswoman Maria Jesus Montero said, adding that doctors who object to the practice will be able to opt out.

The bill was sent to the Parliamentary Health Committee for discussion and then to the Senate before it returns to the lower house for a final vote.

Tania Alonso Cascallana reporting for Nobbot.com news explains the proposed bill. Cascallana stated (google translated):

According to Marin (Fernando Marin, Right to Die with Dignity), the model proposed by the Government is more restrictive than that of other neighboring countries that have a euthanasia law, such as the Netherlands, Belgium or Luxembourg.

It includes two large groups that can request euthanasia or assisted suicide. The first of them is made up of the terminally ill. ...They are approximately 65% of the people who die by euthanasia in the countries in which it is regulated, explains Marin.

The second group is made up of people with a serious chronic disease that results in a deficit of their autonomy. ...They amount to between 10% and 15% of the cases says Marin.

However, the law leaves out people whose suffering has a psychological origin. ...These are difficult cases, which often affect young people, and put on the table the debate of what society does with people with serious mental disorders, explains Marin.

The Spanish Bioethics Committee unanimously rejected the proposed euthanasia bill in their October 6 report. A CNA article stated:

The bill is invalid not only because it decriminalizes euthanasia as an exception to the general rule requiring life to be protected, but also because it recognizes death as a right that can be incorporated into the list of public health benefits, the committee noted.

The CBE pointed out that “a person’s desire for a third party or the state itself to end his life, directly or indirectly, in those cases of great physical and/or mental suffering, must always be viewed with compassion and met with effective compassionate action leading to the prevention of pain and a peaceful death.”

"Legalizing euthanasia and/or assisted suicide entails setting out on a path toward the devaluation of the protection of human life whose boundaries are very difficult to foresee, as the experience of our circumstances shows us.”

The committee stressed that “euthanasia and/or assisted suicide are not signs of progress but rather a regression of civilization, since in a context in which the value of human life is often conditioned by criteria of social utility, economic interests, family responsibilities and the burden to the public or public spending, the legalization of early death would add a new set of problems.”

I understand that this article interviews a leading member of the euthanasia lobby, but it appears that Marin has inside information concerning the bill that the Spanish government is likely to debate in 2021.

If Spain's euthanasia bill is similar to what Marin has outlined, then the bill will allow euthanasia for people who are not terminally ill, but chronically ill, in other words this bill will enable people who are not dying but living with disabilities to be killed by lethal injection.

Euthanasia is always wrong because it constitutes the killing of people, nonetheless, the disability community in Spain needs to strongly speak up because this legislation will threaten their lives.

Spain Bioethics Committee Unanimously rejects euthanasia

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The CNA News Agency reported on October 13 that The Bioethics Committee of Spain (CBE) unanimously rejected the underlying principles behind the euthanasia and assisted suicide bill that is making its way through the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of the legislature. 

The CNA reported:

The 12-member CBE, which is responsible for issuing reports on matters with relevant bioethical implications, unanimously reached the decision to advise the government that the proposed euthanasia law is not valid from an ethical point of view.

"There are solid health, ethical, legal, economic and social reasons to reject the transformation of euthanasia into a subjective right and a public benefit," the Oct. 6 CBE report states.

The bill is invalid not only because it decriminalizes euthanasia as an exception to the general rule requiring life to be protected, but also because it recognizes death as a right that can be incorporated into the list of public health benefits, the committee noted.

The CBE pointed out that “a person’s desire for a third party or the state itself to end his life, directly or indirectly, in those cases of great physical and/or mental suffering, must always be viewed with compassion and met with effective compassionate action leading to the prevention of pain and a peaceful death.”

"Legalizing euthanasia and/or assisted suicide entails setting out on a path toward the devaluation of the protection of human life whose boundaries are very difficult to foresee, as the experience of our circumstances shows us.”

The committee stressed that “euthanasia and/or assisted suicide are not signs of progress but rather a regression of civilization, since in a context in which the value of human life is often conditioned by criteria of social utility, economic interests, family responsibilities and the burden to the public or public spending, the legalization of early death would add a new set of problems.”

The CBE called for "the comprehensive and compassionate protection of life, creating protocols, in the context of good medical practice, with the use of palliative sedation in the face of specific cases of unremitting existential suffering ... along with making effective palliative care universally available.”

That, the committee underscored, should be the "path to take immediately, and not to proclaim a right to end one's life through a public benefit," especially after the coronavirus pandemic in which "thousands of our elderly have died in circumstances far removed from what is not only a decent life, but also a minimally dignified death.”

On February 11, the Spanish parliament voted 203 to 140 (2 abstained) to continue debating a bill to legalize euthanasia. That debate continued on September 10, 2020.