Nathan Verhelst, born female, is euthanized following failed sex-change operation

A genuine human tragedy has unfolded in Belgium after a woman who attempted to become a man by surgical means, asked to have herself euthanized.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Reported in the media as a man by the name of Nathan Verhelst, 44, she was actually a woman who wanted to become a man, but had herself euthanized by a Belgian doctor following her body's rejection of male genitalia.

Verhelst cited "unbearable psychological suffering" as an excuse to end her life. According to local media, Verhelst was euthanized by Professor Wim Distelmans, a controversial figure in that country who also euthanized a pair of twins last year who were born deaf, and were at risk of losing their vision. That euthanization was highly controversial and made international headlines.

Verhelst attempted to become a man and received hormone therapy, a mastectomy, and had male gentalia fashioned for her body. However, according to Verhelst who spoke to a Belgian newspaper hours before her suicide, "none of these operations work as desired."

"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 did not want to be a monster."

As part of the process, Verhelst wrote a letter to family members in which she explained that her childhood relationship with her mother, which was virtually nonexistent and unfulfilling, was a major role in her depression. Her mother had wanted a boy.

Verhelst regarded herself as unattractive and unwanted because she could not successfully complete the impossible physical transition from woman to man.

Such transitions are naturally impossible, because sex is determined by DNA, and DNA cannot be changed.

Far more important, is the fact that Verhelst felt it necessary to end her life and that a physician assisted in the procedure. This is what happens when liberalism runs amok, and we begin to define people by how they orgasm, rather than accepting them as whole human persons worthy of inherent, intrinsic value.

Verhelst's mother also had hurtful comments for the media saying, "I will definitely read the letter (Verhelst  wrote) but it will be full of lies. For me, this chapter is closed. Her death does not bother me. I feel no sorrow, no doubt or remorse. We never had a bond."

Truly, this story is a tragedy compounded upon a tragedy. We should all be sorry any of this happened.

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