EuthaNEWSia (www.euthanewsia.ca)

A citizens action group wants to legalize assisted suicide for all people over 70, who have an "explicit, logical and consistent" desire to end their life. They say the task should be carried out by a new kind of specially trained and certified professional. The group, "Out of Free Will", will start collecting signatures to lobby for a change in legislation. A number of prominent Dutch citizens have come out in support of the initiative, including former ministers and artists, legal scholars and physicians .

The group hopes to decriminalize assisted suicide in the Netherlands. Under current Dutch law, euthanasia is only legal in cases of "hopeless and unbearable" suffering, which means it is limited to people suffering from serious medical conditions and in considerable pain. Only doctors are allowed to assist in euthanasia.

Legal scholar, Eugene Sutorius (63), said: "illegitimate coercion" can never be ruled out completely. The law can only do its best to fight it. Sutorius recalled that the introduction of legal euthanasia in the Netherlands was also previously seen as a corruption of medicine. "It was thought to be the first step on a slippery slope that would lead the medical profession to lose its integrity. But I have seen nothing of the kind happen."

[Note: Some other recent stories related to this topic are in the Links: section below.]

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Jensma, Folkert. "Citizens group argues 'right to die'". NRC Handelsblad. Changed: 9 February 2010 16:33. <www.nrc.nl/international/Features/article2478619.ece/Citizens_group_argues_right_to_die>. NRC Handelsblad, Marten Meesweg 35 Postbus 8986, Rotterdam, Zuid Holland NL-3068 AV Netherlands.

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The EuthaNEWSia ID for this advisory is: enid201002093826.
Mailed: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 14:15:11 -0600
at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

EuthaNEWSia is a free Canadian news advisory service covering end-of-life issues such as right to die, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. EuthaNEWSia is produced by the Right to Die Society of Canada which works toward a good death for all, including open, regulated and equitable access to euthanasia and assisted suicide. The editor is Michael Dawson <editor@euthanewsia.ca>.

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