Spain's five-year euthanasia law sees rising requests and court battles

Five years after Spain’s Organic Law on Euthanasia took effect on 25 June 2021, the legislation continues to shape end‑of‑life care. The case of 25‑year‑old Noelia Castillo, whose contentious request and subsequent Supreme Court ruling confirmed that parents cannot intervene in a child’s euthanasia decision, reignited public debate.

Statistics show a steady increase in applications. In the Basque Country, 120 requests were filed in 2025 – a 61 % rise on the previous year – with 78 procedures carried out. Nationwide, 3,716 requests have been recorded in Catalonia, the region with the highest volume, resulting in 1,284 applications and 565 euthanasia procedures in 2025 alone. The average applicant is 70‑75 years old, suffering from severe, chronic or incurable illnesses, and about 60 % had received prior palliative care. Spain now joins seven other jurisdictions where euthanasia is legal, highlighting the law’s growing normalization within the health system.