A 29-year-old Dutch woman, Aurelia Brouwers, was euthanised in January due to psychiatric illness, sparking debate about the role of doctors in such cases. Euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands, but Brouwers was not terminally ill; she was granted death because of her mental health issues, including depression, borderline personality disorder, and chronic suicidal thoughts.
Brouwers documented her final weeks with a Dutch TV crew, crossing off days on a whiteboard until her death on 26 January. She spent time with loved ones, did craftwork, and visited the crematorium she chose for her funeral. Her case highlights the Netherlands' unique euthanasia laws, which allow assisted death if a patient's suffering is 'unbearable with no prospect of improvement' and no reasonable alternative exists.
In 2017, 83 of 6,585 euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands were for psychiatric reasons, with 65 overseen by the Levenseindekliniek (End of Life Clinic). Brouwers applied there after her own doctors rejected her requests. Dr Kit Vanmechelen, a psychiatrist who assesses applicants, noted that psychiatric patients are often younger, making decisions harder as 'you take away a lot of life.'
During her final weeks, Brouwers was distressed and self-harmed. Journalist Sander Paulus observed that she was 'not as stable' and spoke poorly except about euthanasia. Dutch law requires a doctor to ensure the request is 'voluntary and well-considered.' Critics question whether a death wish can be separated from psychiatric illness. Vanmechelen argues that if the wish is consistent and treatments have been exhausted, it can be equivalent to a cancer patient's choice to end life.
