A 29-year-old Dutchwoman, whose request for assisted suicide was authorized due to her severe mental illness, is anticipated to take her own life in the next few weeks, igniting a heated debate on the subject throughout Europe. After three and a half-year procedure, Zoraya ter Beek was granted final approval for assisted dying last week, in accordance with a 2002 law that was passed in the Netherlands. Her story has generated debate since, despite an increase in the number, assisted suicide for mental health patients in the Netherlands is still uncommon.
Two occurrences of mental suffering were reported in 2010; by 2023, there had been 138 cases—or 1.5% of the 9,068 euthanasia deaths—involving mental anguish. When an April story about her situation was picked up by foreign media, it created a stir that deeply distressed Ter Beek. She said it made sense that cases like hers, as well as the more general question of whether assisted suicide should be permitted, were contentious. According to Dutch law, an individual must be going through “unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement” to be eligible for assisted dying.
For them to make such a choice, they must be knowledgeable and capable. Ter Beek’s problems started in his early years. She suffers from trauma, anxiety, persistent depression, and an unclear personality condition. She has an autistic diagnosis as well. She believed that the safe haven he provided would help her heal when she first met her partner, but she still self-harmed and felt suicidal. She started receiving extensive medical care, which included talking therapies, prescription drugs, and more than 30 electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) sessions. There was “nothing left” in the way of treatment after ten years.
Although she had considered suicide, she was discouraged after witnessing a school friend’s brutal suicide and the effect it had on the girl’s family. Ter Beek claimed that the article about her case was filled with numerous falsehoods and inaccuracies and that her inbox “exploded” when it was released in April. Outside of the Netherlands, primarily from the US, were the majority of the comments. She quickly removed herself from all social media. Ter Beek anticipates her death within the next two weeks after consulting with her medical team. The medical team will visit Ter Beek’s home on the scheduled day.
