A Belgian transsexual, Nathan, who for 42 years was named Nancy, saw no
other way out. He was born as a boy in a girl's body, and as a man died
in a body that he did not want.
Nathan Verhelst, 44, died yesterday afternoon after being allowed have
his life ended on the grounds of 'unbearable psychological suffering'.
It is understood to be the first time someone in Belgium has chosen
euthanasia after a sex-change, and comes soon after it emerged that it
is now the cause of nearly one in 50 deaths in the country.
Mr Verhelst died after a lethal injection administered by the same
doctor who last year ended the lives of congenitally deaf twins who were
also going blind.
Born a girl named Nancy, his transformation into a man began with
hormone therapy in 2009, followed by a mastectomy and finally an
operation to construct a penis last year.
But the procedures did not go according to plan.
In the hours before his death 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.'
His family learned of his decision this morning via a farewell letter.
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