Zoraya ter Beek, a 28-year-old Dutch woman, has made the heart-wrenching decision to undergo euthanasia in May due to her unbearable mental health struggles. Despite having a loving boyfriend and pets, she grapples with depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder. Tragically, she believes her mental illness is beyond treatment.
Doctors have informed her that there are no further options for intervention. This case highlights a growing trend in the Netherlands, where euthanasia is legally permissible. Increasingly, individuals facing severe mental health challenges are choosing to end their suffering rather than endure it indefinitely.
🚨#REPORT: A 28-year-old Dutch woman, Zoraya ter Beek, has chosen to end her life through euthanasia due to severe depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder. Despite being in love and having pets, she feels her mental health struggles are insurmountable. pic.twitter.com/Vf4S78VsPY
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Some view this as a concerning development, while others argue that it grants terminally ill patients more control over their final days.
The Free Press reports a disturbing trend: an increasing number of individuals are choosing to end their lives while grappling with mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and other related issues.
These struggles are often exacerbated by factors like economic uncertainty, climate change, and the pervasive influence of social media.
Stef Groenewoud, a healthcare ethicist at Theological University Kampen in the Netherlands, told the outlet. “I’m seeing euthanasia as some sort of acceptable option brought to the table by physicians, by psychiatrists, when previously it was the ultimate last resort,”
“I see the phenomenon, especially in people with psychiatric diseases and especially in young people with psychiatric disorders, where the healthcare professional seems to give up on them more easily than before,” she added.
The poignant procedure will unfold within the confines of Zoraya ter Beek’s home. Her compassionate doctor will begin by gently administering a sedative, easing her into a peaceful state. Following this, medication will be administered to gently still her heart.
Throughout this heart-wrenching process, her devoted boyfriend will stand by her side, offering solace and unwavering support. Afterward, Zoraya’s earthly vessel will be cremated, and her ashes will find their final resting place in a serene, designated forest spot.
In 2001, the Netherlands took a significant step by legalizing euthanasia. Since then, the number of euthanasia-related deaths has steadily increased. By 2022, it constituted 5% of all deaths in the country. However, this controversial practice has not escaped criticism.
Some argue that the law inadvertently encourages suicide, raising ethical and societal concerns. Zoraya ter Beek, the 28-year-old Dutch woman facing her own heartbreaking decision, also engaged with these concerns on social media before embarking on her leave of absence.
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