Netherlands euthanizes 29-year-old girl suffering from severe depression: “I feel relieved”

A few days ago Ter Beek received final approval from a court in the Netherlands to end his life following a process in which he was involved. three and a half years, In a statement to English newspaper The Guardian after meeting with her doctors, the Dutch woman, aged in her 30s, expects to die. next weeks, “I’m relieved. “It has been a very long battle,” he assured.

A more than 20-year-old law in the Netherlands provides for this right to assisted death When the person experiences “unbearable suffering with no possibility of improvement”. They must be fully informed and competent to take decisions.

This is her case, the young Dutch woman, in addition to suffering from autism, suffers from chronic depression, anxiety, trauma and an unspecified personality disorder. Tried all without success: Over 30 sessions of talk therapy, medication, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

At the end of the consultation with her psychiatrist, she received the following comment: “We can’t do anything more for you. You will never get better. She admitted that she was always clear that if someday they told her there was no hope Her diagnosis was “I can’t go on with this.”

Young Dutch woman, who lives with her partner, gives this assurance at the beginning of therapy i hoped But “the longer the treatment goes on, you start to lose it,” he said in the interview.

According to him, after the lack of hope for improvement he knew “I couldn’t cope with the way I was living anymore”, so he thought about committing suicide, but was shocked to see a classmate at school who was violent in this way. Death and the effects it caused his family removed that idea Of mind.

This process has lasted for three and a half years, during which he has given assurance “He never doubted” About your decision. «I felt guilty: I have a partner, family, friends and I am not blind to their pain. I am also scared, but I am absolutely determined to move forward,” she says.

The article about his case published in April contained “numerous inaccuracies and misrepresentations,” and his inbox “exploded” when everything became known.

“Sometimes when you love someone, you have to let them go.”

when the time comes medical equipment The person in charge of euthanasia will come to your home. “They’ll start by giving me a sedative and then they won’t give me heart-stoppers until I’m in a coma. For me it would be like falling asleep. “My partner will be there, but I told him if he needs to leave the room before he dies that’s okay,” he said.

In this regard, Ter Beek has said that “now is the time”. There are already preparations for this And he is finding “some peace”, although he also feels “guilty”. “Sometimes when you love someone, you have to let them go,” he concluded.