The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia back in 2001. More than 20 years later, the practice is almost universally accepted in Dutch society to end the lives of those who are physically suffering. But its use remains more restricted for psychiatric cases who say they, too, meet the legal requirement of unbearable suffering. Today, some would like to see the law evolve to include the possibility to end one's life even without a medical need to do so. Our correspondents Fernande van Tets and Alix Le Bourdon report.
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Sunday, June 9, 2024
Netherlands Grapples With Complex Debate on Broadening Euthanasia Law
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Follow up by Mark Komrad MD (pictured below)
Colleagues,
[Theo Boer, Professor of Health Care Ethics in the Netherlands] spoke last Friday. Many asked that I send the link to the lecture when available. Here it is: https://doctorssayno.net/webinars/
[Professor Boer] spoke about the decades of experience with euthanasia in that country and how it has affected and changed some fundamental cultural values there regarding life, death, and disability. He document[ed] how it grew vastly beyond the initial parameters.
This was a very worthwhile talk by Dr. Boer who was involved in the early days of the medical euthanasia's roll out in the Netherlands. He was initially supportive, but saw it get quite out of hand. So he became an opponent, and a Cassandra, warning other countries to not go down that path.
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Webinar Regarding Forty Years of the Dutch Euthanasia Experience (May 24/25 2024)
Featured Speaker Professor Theo Boer, pictured below.
Introductory comments by Mark Komrad, MD, below.Please click HERE to join: Password: 089934, check your time zones listed below.
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Dr. Komrad:
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Jurisdictions That Legalize Euthanasia or Assisted Suicide Will Regret it. Just Look at Canada.
By Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
I am just returning from a speaking tour which included meetings with elected representatives in Scotland and the Isle of Man. Both jurisdictions are debating the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide. While in Scotland, a news story was published concerning Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK Labour party, who promised that if elected he would bring forth a bill to legalize assisted dying.
At the same time the French President, Emmanuel Macron, announced that an "assisted dying" bill would be introduced on May 27. As horrific as Canada's experience with euthanasia has been, the terrible euthanasia stories out of Canada is creating a hesitancy in other countries when they debate legalizing poisoning by doctors.
Friday, August 3, 2018
The Doctor Ordered Her Own Family to Physically Hold her Down
By Paul Bois, August 3, 2018
One inherent consequence that so-called "Death with Dignity" advocates seem to ignore is the possibility that doctors and family members will pressure people into euthanasia or assisted suicide for convenience.
A case in the Netherlands takes that one step further, as an elderly woman was euthanized against her will by family members eager to move on with their lives.