A physically healthy woman who fought for years to receive approval for assisted dying has passed away through euthanasia.
Zoraya Ter Beek, 29, chose to end her life citing unbearable mental suffering.
Her journey to gain final approval took three and a half years, igniting a significant debate about the ethics of permitting euthanasia for non-terminal illnesses. Her death was confirmed by her friend Martin, who had been given permission to share updates on her behalf after she left social media. He confirmed she died on May 22.
Martin posted a tribute to Zoraya on Twitter, stating: “For the people who called it a bluff, who called her an attention w***e. Apologize and go sit in a corner. Ask yourself, are you part of the problem, or the solution?”
He included a screenshot of another post, writing: “Zoraya died today at 13:25 through euthanasia, she passed away humanely. Or as she saw it herself: she went to sleep… She has publicly shared her euthanasia trial based on psychological suffering for more than 3+ years in order to gain more understanding, knowledge, and mildness. (And to raise awareness to the waiting list problem with the expertise center.) As a result, many kind people started walking the path with her in spirit. Thank you for that.”
He added that Zoraya had chosen some photos of herself for commemorative tweets, stating: “Her last wish/request was to leave her loved ones alone and, if possible, to swallow disrespectful reactions! She understood that euthanasia is controversial for many, especially abroad.”
Just last week, Zoraya opened up about the messages she received from critics trying to make her change her mind, and her response to those who thought she shouldn’t go through with it. She had received the final approval for assisted dying just a week earlier after the lengthy process due to a law passed in the Netherlands in 2002.
While assisted dying for psychiatric conditions remains rare in the Netherlands, numbers have risen from just two cases in 2010 to 138 in 2023, representing only 1.5% of total euthanasia deaths, as reported by the Guardian.
After speaking out about her decision in April, she faced significant backlash, particularly from those opposed to assisted dying on mental health grounds. She told the outlet: “People think that when you’re mentally ill, you can’t think straight, which is insulting. I understand the fears that some disabled people have about assisted dying, and worries about people being under pressure to die. But in the Netherlands, we’ve had this law for more than 20 years. There are really strict rules, and it’s really safe.”
Zoraya’s case underwent over three years of assessments with medical professionals before being approved. To be eligible for assisted dying, one must experience “unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement” and be fully informed and competent to make the decision.
Zoraya’s mental suffering began in childhood, and she was diagnosed with chronic depression, anxiety, trauma, an unspecified personality disorder, and autism. Despite finding a safe environment with her partner, she continued to feel suicidal and self-harmed.
Over the next decade, she underwent intensive treatments, including 30 sessions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and various medications and therapies. While these helped her learn about herself and develop coping strategies, they did not address her “main issues.”
After ten years of trying, Zoraya concluded there was “nothing left” that could help her and struggled to cope with life. She applied for assisted dying in December 2020. Although she considered suicide, witnessing the impact of a friend’s suicide on their loved ones convinced her it was not the right path for her.
Zoraya planned to spend her final moments on the sofa in her flat, shared with her partner and cats, where the drugs to end her life would be administered. She expressed: “I feel relief. It’s been such a long fight.”
RIP.
