The couple made this decision after they both developed terminal illnesses.
The couple passed away together after almost 50 years of happy marriage.
This is reported by the BBC.
70-year-old Jan Faber and 71-year-old Els van Leningen decided to die together through duo-euthanasia – a very rare but legal way to end your life, which is gradually becoming more popular in the Netherlands.
The husband and wife were lifelong partners, having met during their school days before marrying and having a son. Jan and Els lived most of their lives on boats, and in recent years in a mobile home.
At first Els studied to be a primary school teacher, and Jan was a sports coach, but then the couple decided to build a business transporting goods along the inland waterways of the Netherlands.
Ian developed severe back pain from the heavy lifting associated with his work and, despite back surgery in 2003, his condition did not improve. This sparked a conversation about euthanasia between him and his wife, and they joined NVVE, the Dutch Right to Die organization.
“If you take a lot of medication, you live like a zombie,” Jan said in an interview. “So given my pain and Els' illness, I think we should stop.”
Els retired in 2018 and showed early signs of dementia. She was officially diagnosed with the disease in November 2022 and later learned that her condition would not improve.
Jan and Els, along with their son, began discussing duo-euthanasia as they both continued to struggle with their health.
“I've lived my life, I don't want any more pain,” Jan said. “The life we've lived, we're getting old for it. We think it needs to end.”
It was noted that if Els's condition worsens, she could be declared incompetent and unable to decide for herself that she wants to die.
The couple made the decision to end their lives with the support of their loved ones and spent their last day surrounded by family and best friends. The following day, Jan and Els went to a local hospice with their loved ones and spent two hours together talking and listening to music before the doctors arrived.
“The last half hour was tough,” said the couple's son, who asked not to be named. “The doctors arrived and everything happened quickly – they stick to their routine, and then it's just a matter of minutes.”
The doctors gave Els and Jan the lethal drug, and they died together on Monday, June 3, 2024.
Recall that in April, a woman arranged her death by euthanasia on her birthday. She decided to die on her 34th birthday.
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