Physically healthy Dutch woman Zoraya ter Beek, 29, granted euthanasia approval over her severe depression
The young, physically healthy Dutch woman who decided to be euthanized because of her crippling depression has been granted approval to end her life.
Officials in the Netherlands gave the final approval for Zoraya ter Beek, 29, to die by assisted suicide on the grounds of unbearable mental suffering, according to the Guardian.
Ter Beek first applied for assisted suicide in 2020, following battles with depression and suicidal thoughts caused by difficulties in her early childhood.
The once-aspiring psychiatrist suffers from chronic depression, anxiety, trauma, borderline personality disorder and was diagnosed with autism.
Ter Beek believed that the safe environment her partner offered would help her mentally heal, but it didn’t and she reportedly continued to have suicidal thoughts and self-harmed.
She hit back at critics saying her wanting to die was just because of her mental illnesses.
“People think that when you’re mentally ill, you can’t think straight, which is insulting,” ter Beek told the outlet. “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.”
Ter Beek has thought about her decision throughout the long process, which takes several years to complete.
“In the three and a half years this has taken, I’ve never hesitated about my decision. I have felt guilt — I have a partner, family, friends and I’m not blind to their pain. And I’ve felt scared. But I’m absolutely determined to go through with it,” she said.
For a person to be considered eligible for assisted suicide, they must be deemed to be “experiencing unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement,” according to Dutch law.
The patient must also be completely informed and competent for the final process to be initiated.
“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.
“I was on a waiting list for assessment for a long time, because there are so few doctors willing to be involved in assisted dying for people with mental suffering,” she added.
A patient requesting to be euthanized must be evaluated by a team of physicians, have a second opinion on eligibility, then the whole case has to be reviewed by a third independent doctor.
“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.”
Ter Beek was forced to delete all her social media profiles after an article about her case was published in April, which led to many users bombarding her inbox telling her not to go through with the procedure, which left her in distress.
“People were saying: ‘Don’t do it, your life is precious.’ I know that. Others said they had a cure, like a special diet or drugs. Some told me to find Jesus or Allah, or told me I’d burn in hell. It was a total s–tstorm. I couldn’t handle all the negativity.”
Ter Beek expects to die in the coming weeks, following a meeting with her medical team.
“I feel relief. It’s been such a long fight.”
On the day of her death, her medical team will visit her at her home and begin the process by giving her a sedative and once she is in a coma, ter Beek will be given the drugs that stop her heart.
“For me, it will be like falling asleep. My partner will be there, but I’ve told him it’s OK if he needs to leave the room before the moment of death,” she said.
“Now the point has come, we’re ready for it and we’re finding a certain peace. I feel guilty too. But sometimes when you love someone, you have to let them go.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
