After a three-and-a-half-year battle, a physically healthy woman has been granted her request for euthanasia, sparking a deeply emotional and contentious debate.
Euthanasia, the intentional act of ending a life to relieve pain and suffering, has been (and continues to be) a polarizing issue, eliciting strong opinions from all sides.
So, when news broke that 29-year-old Zoraya ter Beek’s request to end her life had been granted, it drew significant attention, leaving people rather divided – particularly because she is not suffering from a terminal physical illness.
In response to ter Beek’s decision, one person commented on X: “This might be a mean thing to say, but this woman is only thinking of herself, and should seek help. The loved ones she leaves behind will be greatly affected. Here’s just a few things that they will have to endure:
PTSD
Blame
Shame
Traumatic aftermath
Conflicting emotions.”
Another person said: “People should be empowered to end their lives on their own terms, without judgment or stigma. Their body, their choice.”
Ter Beek – a once-aspiring psychiatrist – suffers from autism, depression, anxiety, trauma, and borderline personality disorder (BPD), as reported by the New York Post. She has been granted permission for assisted dying due to her profound mental suffering.
It is expected that she will be ending her life in the coming weeks.
Her recent approval for assisted suicide follows a prolonged three-and-a-half-year process, in accordance with the Netherlands’ Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act. This was enacted in 2001 and came into effect in 2002, per the World Federation of Right to Die Societies.
Although assisted dying for psychiatric conditions is rare in the Netherlands, there has been a gradual increase in such cases. In 2023, 1.5% of euthanasia deaths were due to mental suffering, up from just two cases in 2010 out of 9,068 total deaths, as reported by The Guardian.
Ter Beek – who has chosen to end her life at the home she shares with her partner – acknowledged the contentious nature of assisted dying, particularly when it involves mental illness. However, she highlighted that there were rigorous regulations in the Netherlands, which ensure that only those facing unbearable suffering with no hope of improvement are eligible for assisted death.
“People think that when you’re mentally ill, you can’t think straight, which is insulting. I understand the fears that some disabled people have about assisted dying, and worries about people being under pressure to die. But in the Netherlands, we’ve had this law for more than 20 years. There are really strict rules, and it’s really safe,” she told The Guardian.
Ter Beek’s struggle with mental health issues began early in life and gradually worsened over time despite various treatments, including therapy, medication, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Despite her efforts, she found herself in a place where further treatment seemed futile, prompting her decision to seek assisted dying.
“In therapy, I learned a lot about myself and coping mechanisms, but it didn’t fix the main issues. At the beginning of treatment, you start out hopeful. I thought I’d get better. But the longer the treatment goes on, you start losing hope,” ter Beek shared.
“I finished ECT in August 2020, and after a period of accepting there was no more treatment, I applied for assisted dying in December of that year. It’s a long and complicated process. It’s not like you ask for assisted dying on a Monday and you’re dead by Friday.”
Ter Beek explained that she was on a waiting list for an assessment for a long time as so few doctors are willing to be involved in the process.
She revealed that she’s never second-guessed her decision, adding: “I have felt guilt – I have a partner, family, and friends and I’m not blind to their pain. And I’ve felt scared. But I’m absolutely determined to go through with it.
“Every doctor at every stage says: ‘Are you sure? You can stop at any point.’ My partner has been in the room for most conversations in order to support me, but several times he has been asked to leave so the doctors can be sure I’m speaking freely.”
Despite the negativity she has faced since going public with her story, she remains resolute in her decision, finding relief in the prospect of an end to her suffering.
On the day she will die, ter Beek’s partner will be present, although she understands that he may choose to leave the room before her final moments.
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