Jörgen Raymann became very emotional last night at Khalid & Sophie’s talk show table. He had to shed a lot of tears. “I hope he has good momentum.”
Normally the talk show Khalid & Sophie always completely live, but more than half of the broadcast last night consisted of an interview recorded two days earlier. Presenter Sophie Hilbrand spoke on Monday with David Mulder (31), who received euthanasia yesterday after a life full of severe depression.
Severe depression
Sophie announces the conversation with a warning. “A warning in advance: this is an incisive conversation about euthanasia. 31-year-old David Mulder has suffered from severe depression all his life. This spring he will be officially declared finished with treatment, but to be eligible for euthanasia he must first be put on a waiting list.”
She continues: “A waiting list that is too long for him. His only way out? Stop eating and drinking, mortify. When his psychiatrist hears David’s story, he decides to help him. David died this afternoon, peacefully and in the presence of his loved ones, and I spoke to him last Monday, together with his family and psychiatrist.”
Cry for help
David initiated the conversation in Khalid & Sophie himself. He wants people to hear his story. “My cry for help is actually the cry for help that I unfortunately share with hundreds, perhaps thousands of people, that there is a very high threshold for unbearable and hopeless psychological suffering to have a dignified end.”
The conversation was deliberately not broadcast live. Sophie to David: “That’s because we asked experts: David is coming to visit us, what do you actually think about that? Then came advice that the interview should in no way influence the choice David will make for euthanasia. You think that’s a bit nonsense, don’t you?”
‘Very sorry’
Yes, David answers. “I think it is especially a shame that the impression is given that such a media appearance has an influence on this. You could also just ask me in a live broadcast: ‘David, is it putting pressure on you?’”
He continues: “Then I can tell you, because I am legally competent: ‘No, Sophie, I know that I have the right to withdraw my choice at any time.’ I miss the magic of the live piece a bit, but luckily I was told that nothing was done about the editing.”
Good sailing
When the conversation with David is over, we switch back to Khalid & Sophie’s studio. Live. And then David is no longer there. It makes table host Jörgen Raymann emotional: “I hope he has a good run. I had a child who was depressed, so I feel so deeply for his family and I’m so happy for him that he is now free.”
“Fortunately my child has recovered. The therapy helped her, but I don’t want to think about having to live like this all the time. That’s not life. His parents, his wife: I wish them a lot of strength and comfort during this time. I think they will also be relieved that David can finally start the journey he has longed for.”
Are you thinking about suicide? Please contact 0800-0113 or 24/7 free of charge and anonymously chat on 113.nl.
Fragment
An excerpt from the interview with David:
Are you thinking about suicide? Please contact 0800-0113 or 24/7 free of charge and anonymously chat on 113.nl.