Married Couple Chooses To Die Together Through Euthanasia: ‘No Other Solution’
A couple from the Netherlands decided to make the last decision they'd ever make together. Ending their lives.
Jan Faber, 70, and his wife Els van Leeningen, 71, met in kindergarten before spending their entire lives together. The soulmates were married for nearly five decades before they both began to struggle with long-term physical ailments.
Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Prodecures) Act was passed in the Netherlands stemming back to April of 2001 before being implemented the following year. 'PEOPLE' reported that the Netherlands became the first country to legalize this process.
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Faber, a sports coach, struggled with back pain for years despite undergoing surgery in 2003. The 70-year old spoke openly about euthanasia, as chronic pain rendered him unable to work. He often told his family he didn't want to live with physical limitations.
Leeningen was diagnosed with dementia in November of 2022. "This is very good," she pointed to her body. "But this is terrible," she added, pointing to her head, per 'BBC'. Both of their steadily declining conditions led them to their ultimate decision to opt for duo-euthanaisia.
Jan Faber and Els van Leeningen both from Netherlands were married for almost five decades before they ended their lives at the same time in early June by lethal injection in a double euthanasia pic.twitter.com/iNMtV3zlSF
— Tpapa OG (@XViralNews7) July 1, 2024
"If you take a lot of medicine, you live like a zombie," Faber told a reporter at 'BBC.' "So, with the pain I have, and Els' illness, I think we have to stop this," he stated.
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The news outlet reported on their last days, as the two sat on a sunlit marina in the Netherlands' north just three days before opting to essentially die together. The couple enjoyed being mobile together, living most of their marriage in either a motorhome or on boats.
It was around 2003 when they finalized their decision, joining NVVE — the Netherlands' "right to die" organization. The choice was made before Els' condition rendered her unable to make the choice on her own.
"I've lived my life, I don't want pain anymore," Faber explained. "The life we've lived, we're getting old. We think it has to be stopped." Els agreed with her husband, saying: "There is no other solution."
Els van Leeningen and Jan Faber were administered lethal medication by doctors and died together on Mon 3 June 2024, per 'BBC.'
If you or anyone you know is facing a serious crisis, help is available at suicide prevention.
