He Ministry of Health published this Tuesday the 2024 Annual Report on Assisted Dying Arrangementswhich includes the evolution of the right to euthanasia in the national health system, recognized by law in Spain since June 2021. In total, In 2024, 905 new requests were registered assistance in dying and have been finalized 929 processesincluding 803 requests submitted and resolved that year, in addition to the 126 initiated in previous years. Since the entry into force of the law in June 2021 and until December 31, 2024, the department of Minister Mónica García has registered a total of 2,432 requests for assistance in dying, of which less than half (1,123.46%) resulted in an effective provision.
Of all the processes carried out in 2024 (the last analyzed and the fourth since the entry into force of the law), according to data collected by Health, 426 resulted in the effective provision of assistance in dying (45.86%) and 308 others corresponded to people who died during the treatment process (33.15%).
The average time from application to death in this group of applicants was 47.19 days, with a median of 27 days. The total average time from first application to benefit granting (including deferrals) was 82.65 days, with a median of 62 days.
On the other hand, 141 requests were refused for non-compliance with legal requirements (15.18%) and another 54 people voluntarily revoked their candidacy (5.81%). Regarding revocations at the patient’s request, the 54 recorded in 2024 represent more than double the 21 recorded in 2023.
The report collects information on the profile of the applicant for this right. The majority of procedures carried out (75.89%) corresponded to patients over 60 years old. The most common age group was those over 80 years old. (27.77%). Additionally, the most common underlying illnesses among citizens who requested assistance in dying were neurological (32.51%) and oncological (29.71%), totaling 62.22% of cases.
Of the 141 requests refused last year, 75 were the subject of a claim and, ultimately, 20 of these requests were evaluated by the Guarantee and Evaluation Commission (CGyE), which made it possible to overturn the initial refusal and allow these cases to be approved as benefits (they are already counted in the total of 426 requests paid in 2024).
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