The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled against Spain, ordering it to pay €26,000 to a Jehovah's Witness who was given blood transfusions against her will during an emergency surgery.

The court found that her rights to private life and religious freedom were violated.

The woman, from Soria, Spain, had explicitly refused blood transfusions due to her religious beliefs, even if her life was at risk.

Despite her written refusals, she received transfusions during a critical operation in 2018. The ECHR's decision highlights the need for procedural safeguards to respect individual autonomy in medical decisions.

The ruling also calls for better coordination among hospitals in Spain to prevent similar violations in the future.