(LibertySociety.com) – Death by euthanasia has been a controversial topic for many years, but the Netherlands became the first country to legalize the life-ending procedure in 2001.
Zoraya Ter Beek, 28, has signed up to be euthanized in May because she believes she can no longer live with her mental health issues. She shares a home with her boyfriend, has two cats, and is in good physical health. According to the Free Press, Ter Beek has borderline personality disorder and autism. She said that her issues prevented her from finishing a degree in psychiatry.
Ter Beek told the outlet that her psychiatrist said, “There’s nothing more we can do for you.” She made clear that she had always known that she would not be able to continue with life if her mental health issues did not improve. She detailed her upcoming death date, which would begin with a sedative given by the doctor. She has decided to die while lying on her couch at home, where she will be given a lethal injection after drinking a cup of coffee to calm her nerves. She said the doctor would then ask her if she was ready and if she was still sure that she wanted to follow through with the procedure.
She admitted that she was scared to die, stating, “We don’t really know what’s next – or is there nothing? That’s the scary part.” Theological University Kampen health care ethicist Stef Groenewoud said that medical professionals had begun offering euthanasia as an option for patients when it used to be a final resort. She said that doctors appeared to be giving up on psychiatric patients much easier than in the past. Five percent of deaths in the Netherlands were attributed to euthanasia in 2022, totaling 8,720. That number was up by four percent from 2021. In 2023, the Netherlands approved euthanasia for children between the ages of one and twelve years old if they have a condition that will not improve and causes suffering that cannot be tolerated.
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