EUTHANASIA-Is it good or bad? Is it right or wrong? Is it to be allowed or prohibited? There are differing opinions on Euthanasia or Mercy Killing. Everyone feels and reacts differently to it. But paralympic gold medalist Marieke Vervoort thought that it was the right thing for her at this moment. Hence she ended his life with the help of Euthanasia. She had an incurable disease and was in constant pain. Hence she took this tragic decision and is at peace now.

Marieke Vervoort and his death by euthanasia

Marieke had an incurable disease and was unable to sleep. She decided to end her life and ‘responded to her choice on Tuesday evening’. It was the evening of 22 October 2019 when she died peacefully in Belgium.

A statement was issued from Vervoort’s home city of Diest. Her friend Eric Goens who witnessed the act told Radio 2 West Flanders about her final moments.

“As far as I can call it beautiful, it was a very beautiful, serene farewell, in peace,”

“She has experienced it very consciously, with all the joy and tears that go with it.

“She realised very hard that this really was the end”

“You kept noticing until the last minute that although there was a relief, it was a raw sadness.”

Marieke was only 40 when she died.

Euthanasia is legal only in few countries of the world and Belgium is one of them. In other countries, it is considered an illegal act and punishable by law.

Marieke Vervoort and her disease and Olympic career

Marieke had an incurable degenerative muscle disease. She had both her legs paralyzed and also suffered from seizures. She was unable to walk and was wheel-chair bound. Her disease was progressive and had begun to affect her upper limbs as well. She struggled to eat and was also losing her sight.

Marieke also had constant pain which did not allow her to sleep at night. The pain was so much that it was affecting her daily activities. Her quality of life was low and she was in deep emotional pain always.

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Despite all the sufferings, Marieke was a bright athlete. She had won a gold medal at the T52 100m wheelchair race in the London 2012 Paralympic Games. She also won a silver in the T52 200m wheelchair race.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, she won another set of medals. She procured a silver medal in the T51/52 400m and a bronze medal in the T51/52 100m.

Marieke had submitted forms that she would like to die by lethal injection. But prior to this, three doctors had to sign her form and stress that she had a disease that had no cure and that she was in excruciating pain with no relief.

Marieke Vervoort and her expressions of her disease

In 2017, Marieke had told The Telegraph:

“I don’t want to suffer anymore. It’s too hard for me now. I get more and more depressed.

“I never had these feelings before. And I cry a lot. A neurologist stayed with me the whole night while I had one spasm after another.

“She said it wasn’t an epileptic seizure but just the body screaming, ‘I’m in so much pain. I’m done.'”

She had a loyal Labrador Zenn who used to be by her side always and was her constant comfort. In her last Instagram post, she uploaded her picture competing and wrote:

“Can’t forget the memories!” 

Source: Irish Mirror