Physically Healthy 28-Year-Old Explains Why She’s Chosen To Be Euthanised Next Month

Zoraya ter Beek, a 28-year-old woman from the Netherlands, has decided to undergo euthanasia next month, sparking global conversations about the ethics of assisted death.

Although she is physically healthy, ter Beek qualifies for euthanasia under Dutch law due to her ongoing mental health struggles, including severe depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder.

The Netherlands permits euthanasia in cases of unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement. Her situation has highlighted the complexities of applying this law to psychiatric patients.

Ter Beek’s choice has been met with both support and criticism. Some worry that euthanasia is being approved too easily, especially when mental health issues are involved.

Despite the controversy, she views her decision not as giving up, but as finding peace. For her, euthanasia is not a desperate act, but a release from unending pain.

She plans to die peacefully on her own sofa, with arrangements in place for cremation to reduce the emotional and financial burden on her partner.

Though she admits to feeling some fear, ter Beek remains firm in her belief that this is the right path for her, seeking relief from a life she no longer wishes to endure.