Overview
- Francesc Augé, 56, attempted suicide over the weekend at his home in Vallirana and was found alive by emergency services; he was treated for intoxication and is now in psychiatric care.
- His request for euthanasia was approved by Catalonia's guarantee commission in 2024 but has been suspended for 768 days because his father filed a legal appeal.
- Although the father and an aunt later withdrew their opposition, judges have not reactivated the euthanasia authorization and the case must return to the contencioso-administrativo court in Barcelona to proceed.
- In June 2026 the Spanish Supreme Court ruled that relatives can challenge an authorized euthanasia only if they show a special relationship and signs that legal safeguards failed, and it urged parliament to create a faster, specific procedure.
- Advocates and doctors say the case shows how extended judicial review can worsen patient suffering and that lawmakers and courts face pressure to design a clear, expedited process that balances patient choice with family objections.