Justice Authorizes Euthanasia for a Man Despite His Father's Opposition

A court of administrative litigation in Barcelona has given the green light to euthanasia requested by a 54-year-old man. The patient's father appealed to the court against his son's decision to undergo euthanasia, which had already been authorized by the responsible body, the guarantee and evaluation commission of Catalonia.

The father argued that his son has mental health problems and therefore "would not be in a position to make a decision" like being allowed to die. An argument that the court has rejected. "The fundamental right at stake is the right to life," the father argued in the lawsuit. In his view, the State must protect people's lives, "especially the most vulnerable," he claimed, referring to his son. And that the "State has the duty to protect life even against the will of its holder." The judge of the court rejects these arguments, according to the ruling released this Friday by the TSJC.

The patient, 54, has suffered strokes and heart attacks in recent years. He requested euthanasia and that no one in his family be aware of his intention to end his life. He lives alone, according to the court ruling, and father and son do not have a good relationship. He is the father of a minor child, with whom he has never had any relationship.

The guarantees committee (the Generalitat body with doctors and jurists that evaluates euthanasia requests) gave the go-ahead last July. He suffered three strokes and two heart attacks between 2020 and 2022, which affected his mobility and speech. He asked his doctor to start the process for assisted death. He fears suffering and having more disability than he currently has. After receiving official approval, his father appealed the decision to a court of administrative litigation. He alleged mental problems and incapacity to make decisions, claims dismissed by doctors and the court judge, who orders that euthanasia proceed. The father, in any case, can still appeal to the TSJC.