Background on Dutch euthanasia practice through 1994.
Dutch euthanasia law
Summary and link to full text of current Dutch law permitting euthanasia and assisted suicide.
“Go-ahead for world’s first mobile euthanasia unit that will allow patients to die at home”
(Mail Online — February 10, 2012)
The world’s first mobile team to administer euthanasia in patients’ homes will be launched next month….They are expected to send the number of euthanasia cases in Holland soaring, with pro-campaigners claiming they will end the lives of an additional 1,000 patients a year….It is likely to be used with mentally ill patients or those with early dementia….In Holland, euthanasia is carried out by administering a strong sedative to put the patient in a coma, followed by a drug to stop breathing and cause death.
“‘Euthanasia on wheels’ starts next month”
(Radio Netherlands Worldwide — February 6, 2012)
Six specialised euthanasia teams consisting of one doctor and one nurse will begin making house calls in the Netherlands next month.
“Senile 64-year-old Dutch woman is euthanised even though she was no longer able to express her wish to die”
(Daily Mail – November 9, 2011)
The unnamed woman was a long-term supporter of the controversial practice and had made a written statement when she was still well, saying how she wished to die….
A report released earlier this year revealed a total of 21 patients with early-stage dementia, including Alzheimer’s died by lethal injection in Holland in 2010….The 2010 figures also show another year-on-year rise in cases, with 2,700 people choosing to die by injection, compared to 2,636 the year before.
“Euthanasia becoming integral part of Dutch medicine”
(BioEdge — September 17, 2011)
Among the main conclusions of a ten year study (“The role of the physician in the voluntary termination of life”) by the Dutch medical association are:
If a doctor does not want to participate, “there is a moral and professional duty to provide patients with timely assistance in finding a physician who does not have fundamental objections to euthanasia and assisted suicide,”
and
“If the patient does not have unbearable suffering, he may not be euthanased, but he can decide to stop eating and drinking. In that case, the doctor must respect this decision and “is obligated, in such cases, to supervise the patient and to alleviate the suffering by arranging effective palliative care.”
“Euthanasia advice redefines suffering”
(Radio Netherlands Worldwide — September 8, 2011)
A new position paper just published by the Dutch Physicians Association (KNMG) says unbearable and lasting suffering should not be the only criteria physicians consider when a patient requests euthanasia….Until now, factors such as income or a patient’s social life played almost no role when physicians were considering a euthanasia request. However, the new guidelines will certainly change that.
“Dutch doctors solidly behind euthanasia: Poll”
(BioEdge — August 4, 2011)
The vast majority — 87% — were willing in principle to participate in legal euthanasia….About 65% were not willing if patients are simply tired of living — although 20% were willing….Most doctors are satisfied with the current state of euthanasia regulation in the Netherlands — about 75%. And in response to the statement “euthanasia has no place in a general practice”, 89% disagreed.
“Dutch doctors wary of euthanasia for dementia”
(Radio Netherlands Worldwide — June 26, 2011)
33 percent of Dutch doctors are willing to use euthanasia in case of early dementia. The number of people with dementia who have resorted to euthanasia has risen from three in 2006 to 21 in 2010.
“Fearful elderly people carry ‘anti-euthanasia cards’”
(Telegraph, United Kingdom — April 22, 2011)
Elderly people in the Netherlands are so fearful of being killed by doctors that they carry cards saying they do not want euthanasia, according to a campaigner who says allowing assisted suicide in Britain would put the vulnerable at risk. In an article published in the British Medical Journal (4/11), Kevin Fitzpatrick a researcher for Not Dead Yet said, “Disabled people, like others, and often with more reason, need to feel safe. Thus, eroding what may already be a shaky sense of safety in medical care poses a further threat to disabled people’s well being, continuing care, and life itself.”
“Dutch suicide clinic proposal”
( Radio Netherlands Worldwide – - August 9, 2010 )
In Holland, the feasibility of a suicide clinic to “assist people with chronic psychiatric problems, with Alzheimer’s or dementia and people who feel they have ‘completed’ their life” is being considered. A Dutch euthanasia advocacy group would like to see the “life’s end” clinic made part of an ordinary hospital or nursing home.
“Sharp growth in euthanasia deaths”
( DutchNews – - June 16, 2010 )
The number of reported euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands rose 13% last year following an increase of 10% in the previous year. A reason for the increase could be that the taboo surrounding euthanasia is fading in Holland.
“Now the Dutch turn against legalised mercy killing” by Simon Caldwell (Daily Mail, United Kingdom, 12/9/09)
Dr. Els Borst, the architect of Holland’s euthanasia law, now says it was a mistake. Cases of euthanasia in the country have increased and there are allegations of thousands of cases of involuntary euthanasia and dozens of killings of disabled newborns.
“Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide Drop in the Netherlands After Law” but one out of five euthanasia and assisted suicide deaths are not reported even though the law requires such reporting. (Bloomberg News, 5/9/07)
“Dutch Euthanasia” by Wesley J. Smith (First Things, 4/2/07)
A revealing glimpse of the subtle and not-so-subtle ways vulnerable patients are pressured into euthanasia and assisted suicide.
“Killing Babies, Compassionately: The Netherlands follows in Germany’s footsteps” by Wesley J. Smith (Weekly Standard, 3/27/06)
Italian official causes outrage in Holland for his comments on Dutch plans to officially permit child euthanasia.
“Dutch ponder ‘mercy killing’ rules” (CNN, 12/1/04)
“Death by Committee” (Weekly Standard, 12/2/04)
Now They Want to Euthanize Children (Weekly Standard, 9/13/04)
Translation of Dutch health minister’s interview
Els Borst, Dutch minister of health and longtime euthanasia advocate was interviewed by a Dutch newspaper immediately following passage of a law to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide. In the interview she said she is not opposed to providing a suicide pill for the elderly. Her comments caused an international outcry. (See news coverage below.) This is the English translation of the original Dutch article.
United Nations Committee concerned about Dutch euthanasia
The U.N. Human Rights Committee, expressing concerns about many aspects of the new Dutch law regarding euthanasia and assisted suicide, has asked that the law be re-examined. (7/01)
The Dutch Way of Death Every legal and professional barrier to euthanasia has been demolished, often by doctors themselves. (Wall Street Journal, 4/28/01)
Dutch Courage State-sanctioned killing comes to the Netherlands. (Wall Street Journal, 4/25/01)
Dutch way of death Dutch Health Minister now urging government to permit suicide pills for healthy old people. (San Francisco Chronicle, 4/20/01)
At Death’s Door German newspaper describes “horror” of new Dutch law.
( Frankfurter Allgemeine, 4/10/01)
Dutch legalise euthanasia
International reaction to legalization of euthanasia in the Netherlands. (CNN 4/10/01).
Dutch GP found guilty of murder faces no penalty (British Medical Journal, 3/3/01)
An Amsterdam court found Dutch physician Wilfred van Oijen guilty of murder for euthanizing a patient without the patient’s request and without seeking a second opinion. The court ruled that van Oijen had made an “error in judgment” but said he had done what he thought best for his patient and therefore imposed no prison sentence.
Van Oijen’s euthanasia practice was favorably featured on Dutch and American television in 1994.(see: Dutch TV airs a real euthanasia death.)
For a commentary on the television death of van Oijen’s patient, see Selling Death and Dignity.
Dutch parliament votes Action taken by Dutch parliament to legalize practices that have been taking place for many years. (IAETF Update 2000, vol. 14, no. 3)
Going Dutch
We ignore the Netherlands at our own peril. National Review Online (12/18/00)
“Dutch vote to legalize euthanasia”
By a vote of 104-40, the lower house of the Dutch parliament has approved a law making euthanasia legal. It must now receive approval of the Dutch Senate. That vote is expected next year.
CNN-Europe (11/28/00)
Euthanasia consultants or facilitators? Few euthanasia consultants in the Netherlands act as independent evaluators of the patient’s situation. (Medical Journal of Australia, 1999; 179:351-352)
