The young woman, known only as Laura, told doctors, ‘life, that’s not for me’. (Picture: Getty Images)

A healthy young woman is being allowed to die by euthanasia because she has had suicidal thoughts since she was a child.

The 24-year-old does not suffer from any life threatening diseases, but has been told she qualifies for euthanasia after telling told Belgian doctors, ‘life, that’s not for me’.

Assisted dying was legalised in Belgium in 2003 and five people a day die there with help of medics.

MORE: How Terry Pratchett challenged attitudes to euthanasia with Choosing To Die documentary


According to the most recent figures, the number of Belgians choosing to end their own lives has surged by 27 per cent over the previous 12 months. (Picture: file picture)

MORE: Terminally-ill Club Brugge fan postpones euthanasia appointment to watch team one last time

The young woman, who is known only as ‘Laura’ told Belgian newspaper De Morgen that she has wanted to die since childhood.



He said she told doctors: ‘life, that’s not for me.’

Laura told De Morgen she was the result of an unplanned pregnancy.

Her father was alcoholic and after a troubled early childhood she moved in with her grandparents.

MORE: Sex Pistols’ album artist ‘disgusted’ at Virgin credit cards using his work

She said they gave her ‘security, peace, and structure,’ but that was not enough.

Laura has been at a psychiatric institution since she was 21 and while living there made friends with another suicidal girl who died by euthanasia 18 months ago.

She said: ‘Even though my childhood certainly contributed to my suffering, I am convinced that I had had this death wish even though I grew up with a quiet, stable family.’

Heartbreakingly Laura said she has enjoyed the process of planning her own funeral but admits that her death will be difficult for her grandparents and her mother.

‘Death feels to me not as a choice. If I had a choice, I would choose a bearable life, but I have done everything and that was unsuccessful,’ she said.

‘I played all my life with these thoughts of suicide, I have also done a few attempts. But then there is someone who needs me, and I don’t want to hurt anyone. That has always stopped me.’

According to the most recent figures, the number of Belgians choosing to end their own lives has surged by 27 per cent over the previous 12 months.

Figures showed that in 2013 there were 1,816 cases of euthanasia, compared with 1.432 in 2012.

Elderly people aged between 70 and 90 years made up just over half (53.5 per cent) of the total.

The under-60s accounted for just 15 per cent of the total number of cases.

For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90.