Physically Healthy 28-Year-Old Woman Shares Why She’s Chosen Euthanasia Next Month
Zoraya ter Beek, a 28-year-old woman from the Netherlands, has made the profound decision to undergo euthanasia next month — despite being physically healthy. Her choice has ignited a global conversation about the ethical complexities surrounding assisted dying, especially for individuals suffering from mental health conditions.
In the Netherlands, where euthanasia is legally permitted, Zoraya qualifies due to her severe depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder — conditions she describes as unbearable and without hope for relief. Her case has become a focal point in the ongoing debate over whether euthanasia should be accessible to those whose suffering is psychological rather than physical.
Dutch law permits euthanasia for anyone experiencing unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement, but critics worry that this pathway might sometimes be too easily granted. For Zoraya, however, euthanasia is not about giving up—it’s a conscious act of liberation from relentless pain.
She plans to spend her final moments quietly on her sofa and has thoughtfully arranged for her cremation to ease the emotional and practical burden on her boyfriend. Though she admits to feeling fear, Zoraya ultimately views euthanasia as a way to reclaim peace in a life overshadowed by suffering she no longer wishes to endure.
