Physically healthy Dutch woman dies by assisted suicide at age 29

Zoraya ter Beek, a 29-year-old Dutch woman, chose assisted suicide after struggling with severe mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and autism. Diagnosed at 21 and plagued by bullying and a sense of not fitting in, she wore a “Do Not Resuscitate” tag by age 22. Despite trying various treatments, including electroconvulsive therapy, her condition did not improve.

Living with her boyfriend, Stein, she applied for euthanasia in 2020 after her psychiatrist told her there was no hope for recovery. Ter Beek saw herself as an advocate for the Dutch euthanasia system, which she believed had strict safeguards. Despite seemingly perfect physical health, her mental suffering was deemed unbearable, fulfilling the criteria for legal euthanasia in the Netherlands.

Her case highlights the complexities of assisted suicide, particularly concerning mental illness. Ter Beek opposed easily accessible “suicide kits” and stressed the need for safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals. Her death, part of a rising trend in euthanasia for psychiatric reasons, underscores the ongoing debate about assisted suicide laws and mental health.

For more information see Kendall Tietz “Physically healthy Dutch woman dies by assisted suicide at age 29“, Fox News, June 1, 2024.

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/trusts_estates_prof/2024/06/physically-healthy-dutch-woman-dies-by-assisted-suicide-at-age-29.html