Trigger warning: euthanasia, self-harm, suicide

28-year-old Zoraya ter Beek is expected to be euthanized in early May, following years of untreatable mental health struggles that have become unbearable, leading to a diminished life quality.

The Dutch woman, who has already decided to be cremated, has been reportedly suffering from depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder (BPD).

According to Mayo Clinic, BPD mental disorder characterized by unstable moods, behavior, and relationships.

In 2017, Zoraya had already opened up about her challenges for the Dutch publication AD, in which she revealed that she started to harm herself at the age of 13.

She would cut herself on her arm regularly, prompting a teacher to send her to behavioral experts, which, at the time, did not lead to a diagnosis or treatment.

In 2015, Zoraya was diagnosed with chronic depression and ASD (autism spectrum disorder), and her mood could not be elevated with the help of medications. She was already thinking about euthanasia then.

28-year-old Zoraya ter Beek is expected to be euthanized in early May, following years of untreatable mental health struggles

Image credits: rtlnieuws

Now, according to an article written by a journalist who endorses anti-euthanasia views on social media, Zoraya has finally taken the step to schedule her end-of-life treatment.

She described the process of undergoing euthanasia for the Free Press (FP):  “The doctor really takes her time.

“It is not that they walk in and say: lay down, please!

“Most of the time it is first a cup of coffee to settle the nerves and create a soft atmosphere.

“Then she asks if I am ready.

“I will take my place on the couch.

“She will once again ask if I am sure, and she will start up the procedure and wish me a good journey.

“Or, in my case, a nice nap, because I hate it if people say, ‘Safe journey.’ I’m not going anywhere.”

Image credits: TheFP

As of 2023, euthanasia is legal in Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal (law not yet in force, awaiting regulation), Spain, and all six states of Australia.

In the Netherlands, a doctor administers a sedative, followed by a drug that stops the patient’s heart.

Upon the patient’s death, a euthanasia review committee evaluates the death to ensure the doctor adhered to due care criteria. The Dutch government can subsequently declare that the life of the patient was lawfully ended.

Zoraya recalled her psychiatrist telling her that they had tried everything: “There’s nothing more we can do for you. It’s never gonna get any better.” 

At that point, she said, she decided to die. “I was always very clear that if it doesn’t get better, I can’t do this anymore,” she told FP.

Zoraya admitted: “I’m a little afraid of dying because it’s the ultimate unknown.

“We don’t really know what’s next—or is there nothing? That’s the scary part.”

Zoraya decided to be cremated after being diagnosed with depression and autism

Zoraya ter Beek is one of a growing number of people across the West choosing to end their lives rather than live in pain. Pain that in many cases can be treated.

In 2022, euthanasia comprised 5% of deaths in the Netherlands. Read @rupasubramanya’s investigation:… pic.twitter.com/YHh2Sk6DbN

— The Free Press (@TheFP) April 2, 2024

A Bored Panda staff member read on Wednesday (April 3) an X post (formerly known as Twitter) written by Zoraya where she claimed that she did not have BPD. Zoraya has since deleted her X account. 

Bored Panda has contacted the Netherlands’ Regional Euthanasia Review Committees (RTEs) for comment about Zoraya’s case.

The RTEs’ latest annual report indicates that there has been an increase in the number of notifications of euthanasia in the Netherlands.

In 2022, the RTEs received 8,720 notifications, an increase of 13.7% compared to the previous year.

The total number of euthanasia represented 5.1% of the total number of deaths in 2022 in the country, compared to 4.6% in 2021.

Image credits: Enrique Silva

The committees noted that 57.8% of the euthanasia performed in 2022 involved patients with incurable cancer.

The latest figures also showed that 7% of euthanized patients had neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. 4.1% were patients with cardiovascular disease, 3.2% were patients with pulmonary disorders, and 16.4% were patients with a combination of conditions, usually somatic.

Moreover, the RTEs indicated that the highest number of notifications of euthanasia involved people in their seventies (2,873 cases, 32.9%), followed by people in their eighties (2,314 cases, 26.5%), and people in their sixties (1,669 cases, 19.1%).

“The doctor really takes her time,” Zoraya said, describing the procedure

Image credits: freepik

According to the Maxim Institute, euthanasia is when an attending medical or nurse practitioner takes an action with the singular intention of causing a patient’s death. Generally, this is in the form of a lethal injection.

Meanwhile, assisted suicide is when a suicide is intentionally aided by the attending medical or nurse practitioner, and the person self-administers the medication. That is, the medical practitioner will prescribe a lethal drug that the patient will usually take orally.

Assisted suicide is legal in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, parts of the United States, and all six states of Australia.

People had divided opinions regarding Zoraya’s decision

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