A woman who was set to be euthanized has shared the reason why she changed her mind moments before her lethal injection was administered.
Romy, a 22-year-old from the Netherlands, suffered from many hardships in her life, such as clinical depression, anorexia after experiencing childhood abuse, and eating disorders, News.com.au reported.
At the age of 18, the young woman began advocating for her right to die under legislation in her country, which is legal only if "the criteria laid down in the Dutch Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act are fully observed," per the government website.
She campaigned in front of doctors, officials, and her own family for four years, and was finally granted her wish in June 2023, when she found herself lying in a hospital bed in the city of Leiden.
But seconds before Romy was about to end her own life voluntarily, she had a sudden change of heart.
According to an interview with Dutch publication NRC as cited by the Daily Mail, earlier that day she had seen the black hearse and coffin in which her body would be taken to the mortuary and had handed out t-shirts with the words "life sucks" to mark the event.
Romy's doctor explained the step-by-step process of her country’s euthanasia laws one last time. They stood over her, holding a syringe, and reportedly said: "The first injection numbs your vein... The second injection stops your breathing. After that, you will die quickly."
The 22-year-old, whose surname has been withheld, then gave them the green light to continue, but her heart was pounding as she considered what was about to happen.
Before administrating the lethal injection, the doctor asked one final question to comply with the laws in the Netherlands: “Are you sure?”
That final step triggered an outpouring of emotion from the young woman who burst out in tears and ended up calling off her own death at the very last minute.
It was reported that Romy requested to end her life once again after initially backing out of her euthanasia. However, as she received immense support from her loved ones and psychiatrist, she decided to continue with her trauma therapy and says that she wants “nothing more than to live”.
Reflecting on her journey with Dutch outlet NRC, she explained: “I don’t regret the journey. Because I’ve been so close to death, I see life as something valuable. It won’t always go well, but I now know there is light at the end of the tunnel."
Today, she is studying for a diploma in adult education and lives in communal assisted living.
When the outlet asked what gives her hope, she quipped: “This is going to sound crazy: I genuinely enjoyed paying rent. It gives my life meaning.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
