Judge calls a hearing to decide on the euthanasia of a 23-year-old girl

The head of the Contentious-Administrative Court No. 12 of Barcelona (Spain) has called a hearing on the application of euthanasia to a young woman, who was suspended as a precautionary measure on August 2 at the request of her father.

As reflected in the order issued by the judge dated August 5, the appearance will take place this Wednesday, August 7 at 11:30 (local time).

The procedure for applying euthanasia to the 23-year-old girl was scheduled for last Friday, August 2, at the publicly owned San Camilo Residential Hospital, located in the town of San Pedro de Ribas (Barcelona).

As revealed by the father’s legal representation, in charge of the Spanish Foundation of Christian Lawyers, the young woman suffers from a “borderline personality disorder”, as well as another “obsessive-compulsive” type.

Furthermore, on a physical level, he lacks “complete mobility in his legs due to a spinal cord injury that occurred after a suicide attempt in 2022.”

The judge agreed to suspend the execution of the euthanasia procedure when addressing the arguments put forward by Christian Lawyers based on the fact that the young woman does not have the capacity to “make decisions in a free, conscious and informed manner” as required by the Euthanasia Law approved in 2021.

These requirements are not met in the opinion of the entity of jurists since “the mental disorders, which include suicidal ideation, paranoid ideas and bipolar disorder” that the young woman suffers “can affect her ability to make a free and conscious decision about euthanasia.” .

Furthermore, it was alleged that he had changed his mind on euthanasia several times in recent days.

Euthanasia Law in Spain

The Organic Law regulating euthanasia It came into force in Spain on June 21, 2021, although it was approved by the Cortes Generales in the month of March. Numerous medical entities spoke out against its approval and implementation, such as the Spanish Bioethics Committee or the Colleges of Pharmacists, Dentists and Physicians of Madrid.

There were also reactions from the Catholic Church in Spain. Thus, various religious institutions dedicated to medical care signed a joint manifesto, while the president of the Episcopal Subcommittee for the Family and the Defense of Life of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Mons. José Mazuelos, described the norm as “inhumane.” .