Story Clarification: Previous, widespread reports indicated that teen girl Noa Pothoven died via euthanasia with the assistance of an “end of life” clinic. It’s unclear how or if physicians assisted in her death, although she did request it.
After suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anorexia for years after a brutal rape, 17-year-old Noa Pothoven, of Arnhem, in the Netherlands, died in her home on Sunday, according to DG.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Noa wrote a lengthy post on Instagram before she died, explaining that the decision to end her life didn’t come lightly.
“I deliberated for quite a while whether or not I should share this, but decided to do it anyway…..I will get straight to the point: within a maximum of 10 days I will die. After years of battling and fighting, I am drained.”
“I have quit eating and drinking for a while now, and after many discussions and evaluations, it was decided to let me go because my suffering is unbearable,” Pothoven continued. “Love is letting go, in this case.”
Noa said her years of suffering became too much for her handle. She claimed that she was already among the non-living, even though she breathed each day. She asked her friends and loved ones to refrain from talking her out of her decision. Instead, she hoped to spread awareness about children who suffered from mental and emotional issues.
Prior to her death, Noa wrote an autobiography, entitled, “Winning or Learning,” which deals with her traumatic experiences of being assaulted twice, then ultimately raped.
“I was young. I was eleven when it started. I was already a perfectionist, something that made me tense because I wanted to do everything perfectly at school. However, it was still fairly normal. Until I was assaulted twice, until I was raped. Until then it was normal.”
Very important revelation. The 17 year old Dutch woman who died was not euthanised as reported. She requested and was refused euthanasia, after being repeatedly hospitalized for various reasons. She died after refusing medical treatment and food. https://t.co/TFm4mPkouM
— Michael Nugent (@micknugent) June 5, 2019
While the “Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act,” passed in 2002, notes that as long as the person requesting euthanasia meets all requirements, they can request a physician to end their life. The physician and “patient” must both meet the strict requirements before it’s considered legal.
Although Noe met the age requirements, what remains unclear is if she met other stringent requirements set forth by law. According to DG, the teen previously said that she was denied the request of euthanasia because doctors said she was too young to die.
“They think I’m too young to die. They think I should complete the trauma treatment and that my brain must first be fully grown. That lasts until you are 21. I’m devastated, because I can’t wait that long anymore.”
Noe’s mother, Lissette, reportedly told the outlet that she did not want her daughter to die and tried numerous in many ways to help her.
“We are so afraid that the door of life will close to her. She chooses, as she now stands, for the road to death. We are at odds with each other. We, her parents, want her to choose the path of life. Noa really doesn’t want to die at all. She only longs for peace. ”
According to the act, parents must be involved in the decision to opt for euthanasia, although Noe, at 17, was allowed to make the request without parental permission.
“Patients who are 16 or 17 years of age can make the request without their parents’ permission, although the parents do need to be involved in the discussions,” the act stated.
According to the Dutch Review, Noe contact the the Levenseind clinic in The Hague last year and requested euthanasia. However, the outlet reports that she allegedly went to the clinic without her parent’s knowledge, and the clinic turned her down.
The outlet reports that the teen passed away after she stopped eating and drinking. She had reportedly attempted suicide several times prior.
The story is still developing. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Noa Pothoven/Instagram]
