The medically-assisted suicide of a 25-year-old Spanish woman has sparked a diplomatic dispute between Spain and the US.
The case involving Noelia Castillo highlights already strained relations between the two countries.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has reportedly ordered a formal inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Castillo’s death, provoking sharp criticism from Spanish officials who see it as unwarranted interference in domestic affairs.
According to multiple reports, including in The New York Post and Spanish media, the US State Department instructed the US Embassy in Madrid to investigate how Spanish authorities handled Castillo’s case and to convey Washington’s “serious concerns” over alleged “systemic failures in human rights”.
Officials cited worry over how Spanish police and the judiciary responded to Castillo’s past trauma, including the gang rape she suffered earlier in her life and how her expressed hesitation about undergoing euthanasia was handled.
Castillo, who became paraplegic after a suicide attempt in 2022, fought a long legal battle to obtain assisted death under Spain’s euthanasia law.
She ultimately succeeded given decisions by Spanish courts, including the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia. Her case sparked widespread debate, with right-wing groups in Spain attempting to block her request for medically-assisted suicide in court.
Spanish officials responded swiftly to the US move. Health minister Mónica García called the US probe “unacceptable” and urged Trump to stop “sticking his nose” into Spain’s internal affairs.
She defended Spain’s healthcare and legal frameworks, emphasising that assisted death is legally regulated, evaluated by clinical committees, and endorsed by the courts. She contrasted Spain’s protections with human rights challenges in the US.
The dispute over Castillo’s euthanasia adds to existing diplomatic friction. Relations between Madrid and Washington have been tense in recent weeks due to Spain’s opposition to US military action in Iran and disagreements over foreign policy.
In Catalonia, President Salvador Illa defended healthcare professionals involved in Castillo’s case and reaffirmed support for the right to a so-called “dignified death,” describing Spain’s euthanasia framework as among the most advanced in the world.
The latest controversy underscores the delicate balance of Spain–US relations. For Madrid, Washington’s intervention appears to export political concerns into domestic social policy. For Washington, the case represents a human rights issue worth scrutinising.
