Barcelona:
A father in Spain has lost his appeal to prevent his young paraplegic daughter’s euthanasia in a groundbreaking legal case. The 24-year-old woman was set to undergo the procedure last August after receiving approval from the euthanasia board in Catalonia. However, her father, supported by the conservative group Abogados Cristianos, filed a legal objection at the last minute, leading to a suspension of the process.
The father argued that his daughter’s mental health issues could impair her decision-making ability as required by law. He also claimed that she no longer wanted to go through with the euthanasia and that her condition did not cause unbearable suffering.
Despite his objections, a Barcelona court ruled in favor of the woman, stating that she met the necessary criteria for euthanasia, which was legalized in Spain in 2021. The judge highlighted that medical professionals confirmed her serious and chronic illness without any conflicting evidence.
The court upheld the woman’s right to make decisions about her own life, and Abogados Cristianos announced plans to appeal the verdict, alleging procedural irregularities.
Campaign group Right to Die with Dignity praised the decision for upholding individuals’ autonomy in end-of-life decisions.
The woman, who became paraplegic following a suicide attempt in 2022, sought permission to exercise her right to die in April of last year. This case marked the first instance in Spain of a court ruling on euthanasia since its legalization.
(This article is generated from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by NDTV staff.)
