Zoraya ter Beek, a 28-year-old Dutch woman, will be euthanized in May owing to significant mental health issues. Ter Beek has fought depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder her entire life. Despite having a loving boyfriend and dogs, she believes her mental disorder is incurable.
Euthanasia is a growing trend in the Netherlands
Doctors informed Ter Beek that there were no other treatment alternatives. This is a growing trend in the Netherlands, where euthanasia is permitted. Instead of enduring mental health issues, more people are opting to end their misery.
Ter Beek’s case has sparked debate. Some say it demonstrates a disturbing trend in which healthcare providers routinely resort to euthanasia for mental health issues. Others say that it gives terminally ill patients greater control over their final days.
According to The Free Press, more people are choosing to end their lives while suffering from a variety of mental health disorders, such as depression or anxiety, which are exacerbated by economic uncertainty, climate change, social media, and other factors.
“I’m seeing euthanasia as some sort of acceptable option brought to the table by physicians, by psychiatrists, when previously it was the ultimate last resort,” Stef Groenewoud, a healthcare ethicist at Theological University Kampen in the Netherlands, told the outlet.
“I see the phenomenon, especially in people with psychiatric diseases and especially in young people with psychiatric disorders, where the healthcare professional seems to give up on them more easily than before,” she added.
The procedure will take place at Zoraya’s home. Her doctor will first give her a sedative, followed by drugs to stop her heart. Her boyfriend will be at her side. Ter Beek will be cremated, and her remains will be spread in a selected forest area.
The Netherlands legalized euthanasia in 2001. Since then, the number of euthanasia fatalities has been continuously increasing. In 2022, it was responsible for 5% of all deaths in the country. This has led to criticism from individuals who believe the law encourages suicide.