“We are also aware of reports that Ms. Castillo expressed hesitancy to undergo euthanasia in her final hours, but that these indications were ignored.”
The Trump administration is set to investigate the euthanasia death of 25-year-old Noelia Castillo, who was a sexual-assault survivor. After she was placed in a group home as a teenager she was gang raped by African migrants, leading her to try to take her own life by jumping from a building. She ended up paralyzed and eventually sought suicide. Her family tried to stop her and when that failed they took legal action.
The State Department directed the US Embassy in Madrid to probe how Spanish law enforcement handled repeated sexual attacks against Castillo before her death, according to a report from the New York Post citing a leaked diplomatic cable. “We are deeply concerned by allegations that Ms. Castillo was repeatedly sexually assaulted while under state care and that no perpetrators have been brought to justice,” the cable read.
“We are also aware of reports that Ms. Castillo expressed hesitancy to undergo euthanasia in her final hours, but that these indications were ignored,” the cable added. “This case raises serious concerns about the application of Spain’s euthanasia law, particularly in cases involving psychiatric conditions and non-terminal suffering.”
Castillo legally ended her life last Thursday under Spain’s 2021 right-to-die law. She had been left paralyzed from the waist down after a prior suicide attempt and had suffered multiple sexual assaults before turning 21. Her father fought for 18 months to block the assisted suicide and lost a recent emergency appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, which cleared the way for the procedure.
At the end of her life, her friends were barred from seeing her as were her family. Her family's attorneys say that Castillo asked for a 6 month delay so she could reconsider the assisted suicide but that this stay of euthanasia was not granted by the state, which undertook to end Castillo's brief life on Thursday without any further delay.
The US State Department suggested Spain’s lax immigration policies contributed to the sexual assaults. “We are investigating allegations that the sexual assault of Ms. Castillo was perpetrated by individuals of a migration background,” the cable stated. “Mass and illegal migration is a human rights concern, and Spain’s facilitation of mass and illegal migration represents a dangerous threat to the rights and liberties of Spanish citizens, as well as broader regional and global security.”
US officials were asked to coordinate with Spanish authorities to gather details on Castillo’s attackers, including their migration status, whether any were unaccompanied minors, and why charges were not brought against suspects. The State Department requested the embassy relay these concerns to Spain by April 3.
Castillo’s death was administered via injection and stopped her heart within 20 minutes while she wore “her prettiest dress.” The death has sparked international debate over assisted suicide and Spain’s controversial euthanasia law, which allows requests based on severe psychological suffering.
Libby’s Desk
Commentary and must-reads from Libby’s desk, straight to your inbox.
TPM Newsletter
The Post Millennial’s top stories, delivered to your inbox.
