Tribunal de Estrasburgo

The Tribunal de Estrasburgo, also known as the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), is an international court that hears applications alleging that a contracting state has violated one or more of the human rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. The ECHR is in the news due to its recent decision regarding the case of Noelia Castillo, a 25/26-year-old woman with paraplegia from Barcelona who sought euthanasia. Her father opposed the procedure and requested the ECHR to intervene and halt it. The ECHR rejected the father's request for interim measures to prevent the euthanasia from proceeding. This decision is significant because it highlights the complexities and legal challenges surrounding euthanasia cases, particularly when family members disagree with the individual's decision. The case also draws attention to the application of the European Convention on Human Rights in matters of end-of-life choices and the balance between individual autonomy and the state's role in protecting life. Noelia Castillo has since died after receiving euthanasia.