Euthanasia in the Netherlands

"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)

Dutch euthanasia law
Summary and link to full text of Dutch law permitting euthanasia and assisted suicide.

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)

For more information on Dutch euthanasia see:
Euthanasia in the Netherlands Documented fact sheet on Dutch euthanasia practice through 3/94