Belgian man dies by euthanasia after failed sex change operation
The man died on Monday afternoon
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Belgian man has chosen to die by euthanasia, after his sex change operation turned him into “a monster”.
Nathan Verhelst, 44, was administered legal euthanasia on Monday afternoon, on the grounds of “unbearable psychological suffering”, by the same doctor who euthanized two deaf twins last year.
Shortly before he died, he told Belgium's Het Laatse Nieuws: “I was ready to celebrate my new birth. But when I looked in the mirror, I was disgusted with myself.
“My new breasts did not match my expectations and my new penis had symptoms of rejection. I do not want to be a monster.”
Verhelst was born the only daughter in a family of three boys, and admitted that he had been “the girl that nobody wanted”.
He first had hormone therapy in 2009, followed in 2012 by a mastectomy, and finally surgery to construct a penis.
The euthanasia was carried out by Wim Distelmans, a cancer doctor who hit the news last year after he gave lethal injections to twins Marc and Eddy Verbessem.
The brothers had been born deaf, and asked as a pair for euthanasia after they discovered that they might both go blind and were terrified that they might not be able to communicate with one another. Distelmans stepped in after the local hospital had refused to help them.
Official figures show that death by euthanasia is becoming increasingly popular in Belgium, where cases leapt by around a quarter in just one year. In 2011, 1,133 people elected to die that way, compared to 1,432 in 2012, accounting for roughly one in every 50 deaths in the small European nation that year.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments