Sex abuse victim allowed euthanasia in Netherlands

The woman, who has not been named, was in her 20s and had gone through sexual abuse starting from age 5 to 15

A victim of sex abuse in the Netherlands has been allowed euthanasia through a lethal injection because her post-traumatic-stress disorder (PTSD) could not be treated by the doctors.

The woman, who has not been named, was in her 20s and had gone through sexual abuse starting from age five to 15, according to the Dutch Euthanasia Commission.

Being a victim of child sex abuse, she underwent excruciating depression, severe anorexia and PTSD.



Although her psychiatric conditions did improve, doctors believed that her multiple problems were incurable and decided upon ending her life.

The doctors said she was "totally competent" and that there was "no major depression or other mood disorder which affected her thinking".

Her death has ignited a debate over the issue of mercy killings.

Nikki Kenward, who is associated with the disability rights group Distant Voices, said, "It is both horrifying and worrying that mental health professionals could regard euthanasia in any form as an answer to the complex and deep wounds that result from sexual abuse."



While Labour MP Robert Flello was of the opinion that, "It almost sends the message that if you are the victim of abuse, and as a result you get a mental illness, you are punished by being killed, that the punishment for the crime of being a victim is death."

He added: It serves to reinforce why any move towards legalising assisted suicide, or assisted dying, is so dangerous.

The article originally appeared on The Independent.