The United States investigates how Noelia Castillo’s euthanasia was managed “due to possible system failures”

The media assures that officials reported under anonymity that the State Department instructed the US Embassy in Madrid to gather information about how the case was managed and the decisions that allowed the procedure to be carried out.

US officials cited by the Post expressed concern about possible failures of the protection system for vulnerable people and questioned the application of the euthanasia law in cases of non-terminal suffering or psychiatric conditions, according to reports Efe.

In addition, they indicated that Noelia Castillo had shown “doubts” about the procedure, but that these signals had been ignored, raising concerns about human rights, according to the diplomatic cable cited by the newspaper.

Noelia Castillo died last week at the age of 25 after finally receiving euthanasia in Sant Pere de Ribes (Barcelona), after a long judicial journey of more than a year and a half.

The young woman, affected by paraplegia, was granted euthanasia in July 2024.

His case was validated by the Guarantee and Evaluation Commission of Cataloniathe independent committee that analyzes and approves each request for assisted death following all the precepts established by the euthanasia law.

The president of the Christian Lawyers Foundation, José María Fernández, said that they maintained hope “until the last moment” that the young woman could change her mind, something that did not happen.

In statements to journalists, Fernández considered that the case is a “failure of the health system.”

Both the court that gave the green light to the euthanasia of the young woman and later the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia concluded that Throughout the judicial process, Noelia’s “lack of capacity” had not been confirmed at the time of rejecting his request for assisted death, and that his decision to request it had remained firm since April 2024.

Mental health help resources. If you or someone around you is at risk, do not hesitate to seek help. Prevention is possible.

Suicidal Behavior Hotline: Call 024 (free, anonymous and confidential service, available 24 hours a day).

Hope Telephone: 717 003 717.

Emergencies: Call 112.

For more information, you can consult organizations such as the CONFEDERACIÓN SALUD MENTAL ESPAÑA.