Irene Mekel, an 82-year-old woman diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease a year ago, is navigating her life with an increasing awareness of her declining cognitive abilities. Born and raised in Castricum, a quaint village by the Dutch coast, Mekel cherishes her life, filled with lush gardens and familiar market stalls. However, she recognizes the paramount need to choose her end-of-life journey proactively, lest she loses her autonomy.
With the diagnosis looming over her, she feels the urgency to decide when she might exercise her right to medically assisted death, an option legally available in the Netherlands for those experiencing unbearable suffering. Despite her life’s joys, Mekel is determined not to fall into a state of helplessness, recalling her past experiences as a nurse and caring for her sister with dementia.
Mekel has faced health challenges, such as a recent fall that resulted in a broken elbow, further emphasizing her unwillingness to transition into a nursing home. Instead, she emphasizes her dignity by drafting an advance request for euthanasia, specifying her conditions for seeking assistance in dying: loss of ability to recognize family or engage in conversation, and an inability to remain in her own home.
Unfortunately, despite her family's support and her meticulous planning, her family doctor declined to facilitate the euthanasia, citing ethical limitations on assisting individuals who may lack the capacity to give consent. As a result, Mekel is left grappling with her fate, determined to maintain her dignity yet restricted by the complexities of the law surrounding assisted death in the Netherlands.
