Dutch Woman, 28, To Legally End Her Life; Sparks Euthanasia Debate

A 28-year-old woman named Zoraya Ter Beek, living in a small town in the Netherlands near the German border is scheduled to put her life to end with passive euthanasia this May. Accorsing to reports, she has battled depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder throughout her life. Despite having a loving boyfriend and pets, Ter Beek feels her mental illness is untreatable. Netherlands where euthanasia is legal has reignited the debates on the controversial practice as it has now become a growing trend where many people are seeking euthanasia after mental health struggles.

Dutch Woman, 28, Legally Ends Her Life; Sparks Euthanasia Debate

The Dutch woman was suffering from many chronic mental health issues such as depression, personality disorder, autism and a slew of other problems such as anxiety amplified by many factors such as social media, economic uncertainty, climatic change etc. 

The specific illness has not been disclosed, but reports indicate she had been suffering for several years with a debilitating condition that caused immense physical and emotional distress. 

Beek has been facing chronic illness for years. After having exhausted all treatment options, she opted for euthanasia as a way to end her suffering as her psychiatrists told her that "they have tried and done everything and there's nothing more they can do." The psychiatrists opined that it is never going to get better hinting Beek's issues to be untreatable. 

After consulting with physicians and psychiatrists Beek resorted to euthanasia as her last resort as she said "I was always very clear that if it doesn’t get better, I can’t do this anymore."

Beek will be legally euthanised by a team of doctors at her home where she will be administered the right sedatives given to her followed by a drug that will stop her heart. Once she is dead a team will evaluate and ensure her death was administered with "due care criteria" before pronouncing her officially dead by legal euthanasia. 

Beek's boyfriend will be reportedly by her side during the process and Beek wishes to be cremated, "I did not want to burden my partner with having to keep the grave tidy." Her ashes will be scattered in a designated forest spot.

Reignited Euthanasia Debates:

The woman's case has reignited discussions on the ethics and legalities of euthanasia. Proponents of euthanasia argue that terminally ill or hopelessly suffering individuals have the right to die with dignity and on their own terms giving them some charge and control over their death. They point to the Netherlands' regulated system as a model that balances patient autonomy with safeguards to prevent abuse.

Opponents of euthanasia, however, express moral and religious objections to the practice. They argue that all human life is sacred and should be protected, regardless of the circumstances. They also raise concerns about potential pressure on vulnerable individuals to choose euthanasia and the possibility of the practice being misused.

Netherlands is one of several European countries, along with Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, where euthanasia is legal under specific criteria. In these countries, stringent evaluations are mandatory before euthanasia is approved, and only patients with demonstrably unbearable suffering and a terminal illness or irreversible condition qualify.