to see them for psychiatric reasons. Euthanasia of someone who is 60 is very different to that of someone who is 16. But we follow the law, which says someone must be in unbearable suffering with no other alternative.”

The family had tried many kinds of psychiatric treatment and Noa Pothoven was repeatedly hospitalised; she made a series of attempts to kill herself in recent months. In desperation the family sought electro shocktherapy, which was refused due to her young age. — Naomi O'Leary (@NaomiOhReally) June 5, 2019

After electroshock therapy was refused, Pothoven insisted she wanted no further treatment and a hospital bed was set up at home in the care of her parents. At the start of June she began refusing all fluids and food, and her parentsand doctors agreed not to force feed her. — Naomi O'Leary (@NaomiOhReally) June 5, 2019

Despite physicians’ refusing to take Pothoven’s life, her story remains a sad one. After being denied the procedure, the 17-year-old began refusing to eat or drink in June 2018.

Her parents and doctors agreed not to force feed her, and instead offered palliative care (treatment focused on minimizing the suffering of the patient rather than curing the ailment).

A decision to move to palliative care and not to force feed at the request of the patient is not euthanasia.

Dutch media did not report Noa Pothoven's death as a case of euthanasia. This idea only appeared in English language pickups of Dutch reporting. — Naomi O'Leary (@NaomiOhReally) June 5, 2019

After months of starving herself, Pothoven died in