The Authorities has granted permission for euthanasia to a 29-year-old Dutch woman who suffers from chronic depression, anxiety, and trauma, according to a British newspaper.
After a rigorous three-and-a-half-year process under a law enacted in the Netherlands in 2002, Zoraya ter Beek received final approval for assisted dying.
Zoraya, residing in a Dutch village near the German border, is scheduled for euthanasia in May. Euthanasia involves intentionally ending a person’s or animal’s life to alleviate suffering, often through the administration of painless drugs or other means.
Despite her love for her 40-year-old boyfriend and her companionship with two cats, Zoraya ter Beek, who has faced lifelong mental health struggles, has made the difficult decision to pursue euthanasia.
JUST IN: 29-year-old Dutch woman who is perfectly healthy has been granted to k*ll herself by assisted su*cide.
Insane.
Zoraya ter Beek will soon be dead after officials in the Netherlands granted her request to take her own life.
Ter Beek has been wanting to take her own life… pic.twitter.com/gLLwVFMDOM
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 17, 2024
Her doctors informed her that no further improvements could be achieved in her condition. This choice highlights the complexities of end-of-life decisions, especially for individuals dealing with mental health challenges.
“I was on a waiting list for assessment for a long time, because there are so few doctors willing to be involved in assisted dying for people with mental suffering. Then you have to be assessed by a team, have a second opinion about your eligibility, and their decision has to be reviewed by another independent doctor,” she was quoted as saying by the British newspaper.
“In the three and a half years this has taken, I’ve never hesitated about my decision. I have felt guilt – I have a partner, family, friends and I’m not blind to their pain. And I’ve felt scared. But I’m absolutely determined to go through with it,” she added.
The Netherlands, which pioneered assisted suicide in 2001, has seen a rise in cases involving psychiatric suffering. In 2010, there were only two such cases, but by 2023, the number had increased to 138, accounting for 1.5% of the 9,068 euthanasia deaths. The controversial nature of this practice persists, even as it becomes more common.
While several countries have legalized euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide, the debate surrounding this issue continues among legal and philosophical experts.
Notable nations that permit such practices include the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, Colombia, Switzerland, Germany, and certain regions in the US.
Recently, former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt and his wife chose euthanasia, but critics argue that legalizing it may inadvertently encourage more suicides, akin to a contagion.
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