Godelieva De Troyer
Godelieva De Troyer is one of many people who have been euthanised by the infamous Dr Wim Distelmans, also titled "Dr Death" by the media. De Troyer was reportedly suffering from depression and had been looking into euthanasia for several months before her request was fulfilled by Dr Distelmans. She is one of many people who should not have been euthanised according to the conditions set out in the Belgium Euthanasia Act because all of the physicians and psychiatrists she visited before Dr Distelmans reported that her depression could have been cured.
This case received particular media interest because her son, Tom Mortier, had no knowledge that she was to be euthanised and was only informed about what had happened after she had died. Mortier lodged an official complaint against Dr Distelman's, claiming he did no have the necessary expertise to suggest Godelieva De Troyer for voluntary euthanasia because his credentials are as a cancer specialist, not a psychiatrist or De Troyer's family physician.
This case received particular media interest because her son, Tom Mortier, had no knowledge that she was to be euthanised and was only informed about what had happened after she had died. Mortier lodged an official complaint against Dr Distelman's, claiming he did no have the necessary expertise to suggest Godelieva De Troyer for voluntary euthanasia because his credentials are as a cancer specialist, not a psychiatrist or De Troyer's family physician.
Nathan Verhelst
Nathan Verhelst is another of Dr Distelman's euthanasia patients. He approached the doctor after a botched sex-change operation at the age of 44 and was granted his request several months later. Nathan describes himself as a monster after his operation, but the results could not be considered life-threatening, therefore he should have been ineligible for euthanasia. However, his application for euthanasia was still approved and carried out.
Verbessem Twins:
Marc and Eddy Verbessem were 45 years old when they were euthanised by Dr Distelman's. The twins were both deaf and had received news that they would soon go blind, and they turned to euthanasia as an option because they couldn't bear to live unable to see each other. Many people believe that Marc and Eddy should not have been euthanised because they weren't suffering unbearable physical pain or terminal illness, though Dr Distelman's claimed that 'there was clearly unbearable psychological suffering for them."