A Heartbreaking Decision: Zoraya’s Final Choice
28-year-old Zoraya ter Beek has made a heart-wrenching decision to end her life through euthanasia in early May after a long battle with mental health issues that made her life intolerable. She plans to be cremated, leaving behind years of suffering from depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder.
Zoraya’s struggle started early. At just 13 years old, she began harming herself, leading her to seek help, but it wasn’t until 2015 that she was diagnosed with chronic depression and autism. Medication couldn’t lift her spirits, and she began considering euthanasia as a way out.
Zoraya has now set a date for her euthanasia. She shared with the Free Press (FP) how the process involves a compassionate approach from the doctor, starting with a calming cup of coffee and ending with a final confirmation before proceeding. “It’s not a quick decision; it’s a moment of understanding and acceptance,” Zoraya explained.
Euthanasia is legal in several countries, including the Netherlands, where Zoraya lives. A doctor administers a sedative followed by a lethal drug. Afterward, a committee reviews the case to ensure all criteria were met. In the Netherlands alone, euthanasia accounted for 5.1% of all deaths in 2022, showing an increase from the previous year.
Despite her decision, Zoraya admits to fearing death’s uncertainty. “It’s the ultimate unknown, and that’s scary,” she says. Her psychiatrist’s admission that nothing more could be done solidified her decision, a painful conclusion for someone so young.
Zoraya ter Beek is one of a growing number of people across the West choosing to end their lives rather than live in pain. Pain that in many cases can be treated.
In 2022, euthanasia comprised 5% of deaths in the Netherlands. Read @rupasubramanya’s investigation:… pic.twitter.com/YHh2Sk6DbN
— The Free Press (@TheFP) April 2, 2024
Recently, Zoraya stated on social media that she does not have BPD, but she has since deleted her account. Bored Panda reached out to the Netherlands’ Regional Euthanasia Review Committees for comment, highlighting the rising euthanasia rates and the conditions leading to such decisions.
It’s important to differentiate between euthanasia, where a practitioner directly administers a lethal injection, and assisted suicide, where the patient self-administers prescribed lethal medication. Both options are legal in various parts of the world, offering a choice to those with incurable conditions.
