Zoraya ter Beek
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Zoraya Ter Beek | |
|---|---|
| Born | Zoraya Ter Beek 2 May 1995 Oldenzaal, Netherlands |
| Died | 22 May 2024 (aged 29) Oldenzaal, Netherlands |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Known for | Euthanasia activist, Disability rights advocate |
Zoraya ter Beek (died May 22 May 2024) was a Dutch woman who died by voluntary euthanasia.[1]
Before the end[edit]
Zoraya had been diagnosed, since an early age, with autism, chronic depression, anxiety (personally mentioned as agoraphobia[2]), trauma, and an unspecified personality disorder. She declared that the free press article[3] had twisted her words and also made false statements about her diagnosis, like BPD.
Zoraya had tried multiple ways to make herself feel better. Since 2010, she has embarked on intensive treatments, including talking therapies, medication, and more than 30 sessions of electroconvulsive therapy. She learned a lot about herself and coping mechanisms that worked for others. She managed to meet her boyfriend, and she also has two cats with her. Even more, Zoraya once had a passion for becoming a psychiatrist and has advocated with Feminists Against Ableism on their site[2].
But the ten years of continuous attempts failed to bail Zoraya out of her suicidal feelings. Only an unassisted suicide was ruled out by the atrocities faced by one of her school friend's family after the girl's violent death had prevented her from doing so. At least since 2017, Zoraya had publicly announced for her refusal to resuscitation with a necklace tag, personally hoping an accident or sudden fall can end her suffer.
Zoraya's list of methods of treatment was exhausted in August 2020, and she applied for assisted death in December that year. After three and a half years of paperwork and procedures, Miss Ter Beek finally achieved her will, accompanied by her family and partner, "fell asleep" in her own house.
Advocacy to Controversies[edit]
Under the 2002 Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act, Zoraya is eligible to apply for euthanasia.[3][4][5]Similar applications from autistics for assisted death were legally approved in Belgium[6] and Canada[7]. But shockwaves still went around the world when Zoraya's story was published in April 2024.
Some fellow autistics and families had advocated against Zoraya's will. Historically the word "Autism" and "Mental Illness" was connected to "Euthanasia" by the Nazi Germany's Aktion T4, in which Hans Asperger had found guilty of participating it causing a cancellation to the namesake changing the word for the tag.
Also, when Zoraya's story became popular, countless religious personnel had infinitely spammed content trying to turn her will.
Zoraya had harshly fought back against religious propaganda through public blockade and condemnation. As for the autistic and mental health concerns, she justified the decision of related Dutch authorities by highlighting the time-lapse of her process.
References[edit]
- ^ https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/dutch-woman-s-assisted-death-highlights-euthanasia-debate/ar-BB1mZxa7
- ^ a b "Different not less – Feminists Against Ableism" (in Dutch). 2019-03-05. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
- ^ a b "'I'm 28. And I'm Scheduled to die in May.'". April 2024.
- ^ "Dutch woman, 29, granted euthanasia approval on grounds of mental suffering | Assisted dying | the Guardian".
- ^ "Vreten zul je verdomme…….dag allerliefste koekwaus……".
- ^ "'What could help me to die?' Doctors clash over euthanasia". STAT (from Associated Press). 2017-10-26. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Calgary judge rules 27-year-old can go ahead with MAID death despite father's concerns". CBC. Mar 25, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)