After struggling with depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder, a 28-year-old physically fit lady has made the decision to end her life by euthanasia.
The choice to terminate her life legally was taken by Zoraya ter Beek, a 28-year-old Dutch lady who lives in a tiny community close to the German border.
According to the Free Press, ter Beek has chosen for euthanasia, which is set for May, despite her love for her 40-year-old lover and the company of her two cats. This is because her mental health issues have not improved.
She faced similar obstacles throughout her life, having once dreamed of becoming a doctor.
Ter Beek made her choice known in an interview with The Free Press, saying, “I was always very clear that if it doesn’t get better, I can’t do this anymore.”
Her story demonstrates an increasing trend in the West where people are choosing to terminate their lives because they are experiencing significant mental health problems. This is in contrast to conventional beliefs that euthanasia was mostly related to terminal conditions.
Healthcare ethicist Stef Groenewoud of the Netherlands’ Theological University Kampen voiced alarm about this development.
She observed: “I see the phenomenon where the healthcare professional seems to give up on them more easily than before, especially in people with psychiatric diseases and especially in young people with psychiatric disorders.”
May is when Beek is expected to pass away. Credit: Getty/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/DIGICOMPHOTO
The euthanasia procedure used by Ter Beek is well thought out. Before giving her a medication to halt her heart, a doctor will sedate her. The treatment will take place on her living room couch, with her partner by her side the entire time.
Thinking back on her imminent death, ter Beek said she was still nervous even if this was her decision. I fear death a little bit since it’s the greatest unknown. Is there nothing more, or do we genuinely not know what comes next? The worrying aspect is that.
Euthanasia has been legal in the Netherlands since 2001. Alexander Spatari/Getty
The number of euthanasia cases has significantly increased in the Netherlands, which led the way in legalizing assisted death in 2001. According to the New York Post, there were 8,720 euthanasia deaths in 2022 alone, or almost 5% of all deaths in the nation.
In February, Dries van Agt, the 93-year-old former prime minister of the Netherlands, and his spouse passed away together through euthanasia.
Ter Beek posted to Twitter in reaction to The Free Press’s article, thanking those who were open to learning from her experiences and declaring her intention to stop using social media before to her planned euthanasia.
