Young Women Euthanized for Trauma

[Thomas_muntzer]

– Shanti De Corte (Belgium): At 17, she survived the ISIS terrorist attack that left 32 dead at Brussels Airport. The event caused her to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. She was hospitalized several times in state psychiatric units and placed on heavy medication. With her parents' support, in 2022 two psychiatrists approved her request for euthanasia. In May of that year, at 23, Shanti underwent euthanasia by lethal injection in the presence of her family.

– Milou Verhoof (Netherlands): She was raped at 13, which led to post-traumatic depression. Her parents had her admitted to a state psychiatric unit, where she was sexually abused again. Her parents contacted a psychiatrist willing to perform euthanasia. On October 2, 2023, Milou received euthanasia at the age of 17 in her childhood bedroom, with painted nails, dressed in a formal gown, and wearing high heels.

– Noelia Castillo Ramos (Spain): At age 13, her parents divorced and were experiencing financial instability; consequently, the state assumed legal guardianship of Noelia and placed her in a juvenile detention center. In 2022, she was gang-raped at this center. This caused her to suffer from post-traumatic depression, leading her to attempt suicide by jumping from a fifth-floor window. She survived, but was left with serious injuries. With her mother's support, but against her father's wishes, she requested euthanasia in 2024. After nearly two years of litigation, she underwent euthanasia on March 26 at the age of 25. The hospital that pressured for her to be euthanized will receive her organs as a donation.

In each case, we are talking about young women who, for the most part, are physically healthy but suffer mentally. And what does the State do? Instead of healing them, it kills them. Parents, the primary authorities morally obligated to protect them, fail them and, in the end, to wash their hands of the matter, get rid of them under the pretext of a "dignified death."

This is immoral.

This is perverse.

This is, frankly, diabolical.

Suicide is being glorified as a virtue, and our doctors are becoming our executioners.

[JohnH]

One of the striking things about Verhoof and Castillo-Ramos is how similar it is to an honor killing. In essence, young girls who are sexually assaulted end up being killed as part of a formal, state-sanctioned process.

Particularly chilling is Dr. Menno Oosterhoff:

Dr. Menno Oosterhoff is a renowned Dutch psychiatrist who focuses on treating children and adolescents. Over the years, he has assisted his patients not just with managing their psychological conditions and challenges, but also with terminating their lives.

The procedure is entirely lawful. In 2002, Dutch legislators authorized physicians to perform medically assisted suicide for patients who make "voluntary and well considered" requests to stop "unbearable" suffering, when there is no "prospect of improvement" and no "reasonable alternative" to dying.

In Oosterhoff's situation, the majority of cases don't involve patients with physical disabilities. Instead, their "mentally terminal" condition has qualified some for assisted suicide, a choice the psychiatrist contends stops extended anguish and reduces the likelihood of unassisted suicide.

Advocates of Oosterhoff's work regard him as a lifesaver, as he has emerged as the public face of psychiatric euthanasia throughout the Netherlands, according to a feature in The Atlantic, reports the Express US.

[barnhart]

Thomas M, this looks like a terrible trend. What approach would you recommend for the American church to take against this?

[Anthony]

One of the striking things about Verhoof and Castillo-Ramos is how similar it is to an honor killing. In essence, young girls who are sexually assaulted end up being killed as part of a formal, state-sanctioned process.

Particularly chilling is Dr. Menno Oosterhoff:

Dr. Menno Oosterhoff is a renowned Dutch psychiatrist who focuses on treating children and adolescents. Over the years, he has assisted his patients not just with managing their psychological conditions and challenges, but also with terminating their lives.

The procedure is entirely lawful. In 2002, Dutch legislators authorized physicians to perform medically assisted suicide for patients who make "voluntary and well considered" requests to stop "unbearable" suffering, when there is no "prospect of improvement" and no "reasonable alternative" to dying.

In Oosterhoff's situation, the majority of cases don't involve patients with physical disabilities. Instead, their "mentally terminal" condition has qualified some for assisted suicide, a choice the psychiatrist contends stops extended anguish and reduces the likelihood of unassisted suicide.

Advocates of Oosterhoff's work regard him as a lifesaver, as he has emerged as the public face of psychiatric euthanasia throughout the Netherlands, according to a feature in The Atlantic, reports the Express US.

Ive never thought of it as an honor killing, but that makes a lot of sense. I almost feel that this was the justification for honor killings when they first started.

[JimFoxvog]

[...]
In each case, we are talking about young women who, for the most part, are physically healthy but suffer mentally. And what does the State do? Instead of healing them, it kills them. [...]

This is immoral.

This is perverse.

I agree that this is perverse and immoral. But I doubt the State has the ability to heal them. Knowing that, they give up.

[JayP]

The Ramos case is even WORSE than described. They were lined up ready to take her organs. Nice, juicy valuable YOUNG organs to transplant into rich older people that can pay. As bad as China. The “sale” (oh they claim it’s not a sale) of organs for money is widespread and sickening.

[barnhart]

I agree that this is perverse and immoral. But I doubt the State has the ability to heal them. Knowing that, they give up.

Maybe this is an area ripe unto harvest as Jesus said. Maybe this church should be moving into these spaces with confidence that healing is possible with the power of God. Maybe instead of standing back and pointing we should have the confidence of the early church father Origen who wrote in reply to the emperor who asked why Christians do not assist Rome by serving in the military,

"We who by our prayers destroy all demons which stir up wars, violate oaths, and disturb the peace are of more help to the emperors than those who seem to be doing the fighting.

Maybe we should be saying "bring those patients to us to see what God will do."

[JohnH]

Maybe this is an area ripe unto harvest as Jesus said. Maybe this church should be moving into these spaces with confidence that healing is possible with the power of God. Maybe instead of standing back and pointing we should have the confidence of the early church father Origen who wrote in reply to the emperor who asked why Christians do not assist Rome by serving in the military,

Well, "the church" probably isn't allowed to. Generally speaking we aren't allowed to just go into hospitals and conduct healing services.

Maybe we should be saying "bring those patients to us to see what God will do."

Go right ahead. Is anything stopping you from doing so?

In my experience, attempts to have supernatural healing for people with mental illnesses have often not gone very well.

[Thomas_muntzer]

One of the striking things about Verhoof and Castillo-Ramos is how similar it is to an honor killing. In essence, young girls who are sexually assaulted end up being killed as part of a formal, state-sanctioned process.

Particularly chilling is Dr. Menno Oosterhoff:

Dr. Menno Oosterhoff is a renowned Dutch psychiatrist who focuses on treating children and adolescents. Over the years, he has assisted his patients not just with managing their psychological conditions and challenges, but also with terminating their lives.

The procedure is entirely lawful. In 2002, Dutch legislators authorized physicians to perform medically assisted suicide for patients who make "voluntary and well considered" requests to stop "unbearable" suffering, when there is no "prospect of improvement" and no "reasonable alternative" to dying.

In Oosterhoff's situation, the majority of cases don't involve patients with physical disabilities. Instead, their "mentally terminal" condition has qualified some for assisted suicide, a choice the psychiatrist contends stops extended anguish and reduces the likelihood of unassisted suicide.

Advocates of Oosterhoff's work regard him as a lifesaver, as he has emerged as the public face of psychiatric euthanasia throughout the Netherlands, according to a feature in The Atlantic, reports the Express US.

When euthanasia was initially debated, the discussion focused on cases where there was clearly an ethical dilemma, such as cancer patients with metastasis who literally could not eat or get out of bed. But applying euthanasia to patients with depression is truly murder

[Thomas_muntzer]

Thomas M, this looks like a terrible trend. What approach would you recommend for the American church to take against this?

The first thing is to talk about it. You can't solve a problem if you don't know about it. Second, prayer is a fundamental pillar in the fight against evil on earth. And finally, as a practitioner of the Theology of the Two Kingdoms, I don't know if i should participate in the public debate. I'm not sure how far I should go in that direction. Would it be okay to participate in a political campaign that wants to establish clear limits on euthanasia? Is speaking at the local council appropriate? Perhaps even filing a lawsuit? I don't know, but talking about the issue is a good start, I think.