Dutch woman, 28, to be euthanized due to mental illness after psychiatrist says situation will ‘never’ get better

A 28-year-old Dutch woman is expected to be euthanized next month due to her mental illness problems, after her psychiatrist said her condition would never improve.

Zoraya ter Beek lives in a nice house in a small Dutch town near the German border with her boyfriend and two cats. Although she is in good physical health, she is considering ending her life due to her depression, autism and borderline personality disorder, according to The Free Press.

She once had ambitions to become a psychiatrist, but she was never able to complete her studies or start a career because of her own mental illness. But now she is tired of living and wants to end her life.

A tattoo on his upper left arm shows a “tree of life” but “upside down.”

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“Where the tree of life represents growth and new beginnings, my tree is the opposite,” ter Beek told the Free Press. “It’s losing its leaves, it’s dying. And once the tree died, the bird flew away. I don’t see it as my soul leaving, but rather as myself freed from life.”

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Ter Beek’s decision came after his psychiatrist told him they had tried everything to improve his mental health.

“There’s nothing more we can do for you. This will never get better,” she recalled telling her psychiatrist.

After announcing his decision, ter Beek said: “I’ve always been very clear that if the situation doesn’t improve, I can’t do this anymore.”

As for how she plans to hang out, ter Beek said she’ll be lying on the living room couch, with no music. But she asked her boyfriend to stay with her until the end.

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“The doctor really takes his time,” she says. It’s not that they come in and say, “Please lie down!” » Most of the time, it’s first a cup of coffee to calm the nerves and create a gentle atmosphere. Then she asks me if I’m ready. I’ll take my place on the couch. She will ask me again if I am sure, she will start the procedure and wish me a good trip. Or, in my case, a good nap, because I hate it when people say, “Have a good trip.” I’m not going anywhere.”

Then the doctor will administer a sedative and then medicine to stop ter Beek’s heart.

After his death, a euthanasia review board will assess ter Beek’s death to ensure the doctor followed “due diligence criteria” and the Dutch government will declare his life was legally ended.

No funeral will take place following the death of ter Beek. Instead, her boyfriend will scatter her ashes in an area of ​​the woods they chose together, because she wishes to be cremated.

“I didn’t want to burden my partner with having to keep the grave tidy,” ter Beek said. “We haven’t chosen an urn yet, but this will be my new home!”

Ter Beek admitted that she was somewhat afraid of dying because she was unsure of what would happen after death, if anything.

“I’m a little afraid of dying, because it’s the ultimate unknown,” she says. “We don’t really know what’s next – or is there nothing? That’s the scary thing.”

In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia. Today, at least eight countries have legalized it. Assisted suicide is also legal in 10 US states, Washington, DC and all six Australian states.

Theo Boerin, a professor of health care ethics at the Protestant Theological University, served on a committee reviewing euthanasia in the Netherlands from 2005 to 2014. During that time, he told The Free Press, he observed that Dutch euthanasia was “evolving from death as the last resort to death as the default option.” “.

Original article source: Dutch woman, 28, to be euthanized due to mental illness after psychiatrist says situation will ‘never’ get better