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Spanish Congress Advances Reform To Curb Judicial Delays After Noelia Case

Lawmakers aim to force courts to rule on appeals within 25 days to speed access to approved euthanasia requests.

Overview

  • Noelia Castillo received euthanasia in March after a roughly two-year precautionary suspension that began when her father appealed the approved request through regional, national and European courts.
  • The Congress took the first formal step to change the law by accepting a reform that would shorten the time courts have to resolve appeals and is intended to prevent similar multi-year blocks.
  • The proposed text seeks a 25-day maximum for judicial decisions on appeals against grant decisions and would confine review to a single higher-contentious instance to accelerate final rulings.
  • Supporters from PSC, Junts, ERC, Comuns and CUP say the change preserves medical and commission safeguards while preventing obstruction; PP and Vox oppose it arguing it reduces guarantees for irreversible decisions.
  • Gerónimo Castillo, Noelia’s father, released a video criticizing how quickly the euthanasia was carried out and calling for more mental-health resources, and lawmakers and rights groups say the next steps are parliamentary debate and possible further legal challenges.