Spain became the first country with Catholic traditions to legalize euthanasia in March 2021 after a parliamentary vote, with 202 votes in favor, 141 against, and two abstentions. Thus, Spain joined the short list of countries where the right to a 'dignified death' is recognized. The new law guarantees patients in terminal stages access to both euthanasia (administered by a doctor) and assisted suicide (where the patient receives medication to end their life). As in many other countries where euthanasia was previously approved, the law in Spain requires that the applicant suffer from a serious and incurable illness or a condition causing 'intolerable suffering'. A paradigmatic case is that of 25-year-old Noelia Castillo Ramos, whose two-year legal battle to receive euthanasia was successful. The commission of experts confirmed that her clinical situation was non-recoverable, causing her severe dependency, pain, and chronic disabling suffering, which affected her autonomy and daily activities. Spain joined eight other countries where active euthanasia is legal.
