A 28-year-old Dutch woman, Zoraya ter Beek, has chosen to legally end her life due to her ongoing battle with severe depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder. Ter Beek, a resident of a small village near the German border in the Netherlands, is set to undergo euthanasia in May. This decision comes despite her relationship with her 40-year-old boyfriend and her two pet cats.
Ter Beek, who once dreamt of becoming a psychiatrist, has been grappling with mental health issues for most of her life. She made the decision to opt for euthanasia after her doctors informed her that her condition would not improve. Ter Beek expressed that she had always been clear about her decision to end her life if her condition did not improve.
Ter Beek’s decision reflects a growing trend in Western societies, where individuals are choosing euthanasia over living with non-terminal but painful conditions. The number of people opting for euthanasia due to mental health issues such as depression or anxiety has been on the rise, exacerbated by factors such as economic instability, climate change, and the impact of social media.
Stef Groenewoud, a healthcare ethicist at Theological University Kampen in the Netherlands, expressed concern over the increasing acceptance of euthanasia as an option for individuals with psychiatric disorders. She noted a worrying trend where healthcare professionals seem to give up on such patients more readily than before.
Ter Beek has planned her euthanasia procedure to take place on her living room couch, with her boyfriend by her side. A doctor will administer a sedative, followed by a drug that will stop her heart. Ter Beek has chosen not to have a funeral, and her boyfriend will scatter her ashes in a woodland area they have selected.
The Netherlands was the first country to legalize assisted suicide in 2001. Since then, the practice has gained popularity. In 2022, there were 8,720 euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands, accounting for approximately 5% of all deaths in the country, an increase from 4% the previous year.
Critics of suicide legalization argue that laws like those in the Netherlands encourage individuals like Ter Beek to end their lives. Ter Beek, however, has defended her decision and announced her departure from social media ahead of her scheduled euthanasia.