Netherlands: Sharp growth in euthanasia deaths

Description: [of the article from DutchNews.nl]

The number of reported deaths by euthanasia rose 13% last year to 2,636, following an increase of 10% in 2008, the NRC reports, quoting figures due to be published at the beginning of July. The 2008 increase led the health ministry to set up an investigation into the increase. That investigation is due to start this month.

One reason for the increase could be that the taboo surrounding euthanasia is fading, Jan Suyver, chairman of the regional euthanasia monitoring group told the paper. 'It could also be that doctors are more likely to report it,' he said. Some 80% of people who opt for mercy killing die at home.

Euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands under strict conditions. For example, the patient must be suffering unbearable pain and the doctor must be convinced the patient is making an informed choice. The opinion of a second doctor is also required.

The original Dutch-language report in NRC handelsblad said that euthanasia after the onset of dementia is not a cause of the increase, since only twelve people received euthanasia last year for that reason. Around 85 percent of people who applied euthanasia had cancer. "They look at the pain, the humiliation, loss of independence or a combination thereof," said Suyver. Besides cancer, other reasons were cardiovascular disease and neurological diseases.

[There is information in the Notes section below.]
[There are other related stories in the Links section below.]

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Source:

"Sharp growth in euthanasia deaths". DutchNews.nl. Wednesday 16 June 2010. <www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2010/06/sharp_growth_in_euthanasia_dea.php>.

Tags:

Tags (or keywords) briefly indicate some major topics of the report.

  • euthanasia

  • Netherlands

Notes:

  • Belgium: Nurses and Euthanasia [Le Blog de Jacqueline Jencquel]
    http://www.wmaker.net/jencquel/NURSES-AND-EUTHANASIA-SOME-CONFUSION_a471.html
    Dr. Marc Englert, Member of the Commission of Control and Evaluation of the Law on Euthanasia (Belgium), writes to correct the idea that the Belgian studies (published by the CMAJ) suggested that euthanasia was practiced illegally by some nurses in Belgium. His points (my summary for 1-3):

    1. Euthanasia by definition is an act which ends the life of a patient who has requested it. Terminal sedation is different, and is an accepted practice to relieve suffering.

    2. It is normal for terminal sedation to be administered by a nurse on the direction of a doctor.

    3. Nurses may assist a doctor in euthanasia.

    4. The intentional administration of lethal doses of drugs at the end of life without the request of the patient is effectively, in our country as in others, illegal. It is only practiced exceptionally in cases of terrible suffering when a patient is in agony and is no longer capable of expressing his/her wishes. In those cases, it is not an act of euthanasia and if the judiciary takes up the case, the author of this act (whether a physician or a nurse) would only be able to justify the action in a ‘case of absolute necessity’. The Netherlands is the only country where such acts must be reported and placed in the public record. Theoretically, the court is then free to review the evidence but this is rarely or practically never done.

ID:

The EuthaNEWSia ID for this advisory is: enid201006173840.
Mailed: Thursday, June 17, 2010 14:04:21 -0600
at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Etcetera:

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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