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By Any Measure Dutch
Euthanasia Out of Control
Part Five of Five By Dave Andrusko The lead sentence in the Reuters' story is, as they say, just the tip of the iceberg. Under the headline, "Dutch euthanasia cases up 13 per cent last year," we read, "The number of reported Dutch cases of euthanasia or assisted suicide rose 13 percent last year, the government said on Wednesday, spurring talk of a possible 'euthanasia hospital' to help people end their lives." There were 2,636 cases in 2009, according to the annual report of the regional commissions that oversee the Netherlands' euthanasia law, 2,331 in 2008, and 2,120. As Wesley Smith has written on his blog, this is part of larger pattern from the nation with probably the most "liberal" euthanasia laws in the world. It includes, he writes, "Dutch doctors creating a how-to-commit-suicide informational for their patients who don't legally qualify for euthanasia"; "The filing of a petition signed by 100,000 people to persuade the Dutch parliament to open up euthanasia to the healthy elderly who are tired of life," and (apropos the Reuters' story)"A proposal to create Dutch suicide clinics that would help kill all comers." You might think that a 13% increase following an increase in 2008 of 10.5% would mean an alarmed public. But you would be wrong, at least if the gist of the Reuters' story is accurate. The back-to-back double-digit increases are instead "bolstering a campaign for more formal facilities to end peoples' lives." Wesley quotes the following from a story from Radio Netherlands Worldwide: The Dutch pressure group Right to Die NL (NVVE) is investigating the feasibility of setting up a clinic for suicide and euthanasia. It would help people who sincerely wish to die and have nowhere else to turn. The NVVE says the clinic could assist people with chronic psychiatric problems, with Alzheimer's or dementia and people who feel they have "completed" their life. These categories of people do not meet the requirements of hospices, which specialise in terminal care. Euthanasia is available in most Dutch hospices. The NVVE would like to see the "life's end" clinic made part of an ordinary hospital or nursing home. Wesley hit the nail on the head when he wrote, "There is no denying the evidence that euthanasia consciousness leads to a broader culture of death that eventually accepts all comers." Please send all of your comments to daveandrusko@gmail.com. If you like, join those who are now following me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/daveha. |