Prayers requested for both Dutch and Belgian Senate
Dutch Legislators Pause at Brink of Euthanasia Abyss

Last November, when the lower house of the Dutch parliament voted 104-40 to legalize euthanasia, the Senate's approval was considered a mere formality.

[See NRL News, December 2000, page 24.] But the recent conviction of general practitioner Dr. Wilfred van Oijen for having performed an act of euthanasia on an elderly woman in 1997 has reignited the debate. No longer is passage by the upper house seen as a perfunctory "rubber stamp."

On March 3 a Netherlands court decided that the Netherlands' current provisions that allow doctors to administer lethal doses do not cover the 1997 death of an 84-year-old patient. Van Oijen was prosecuted, according to published accounts, for having " failed to follow some basic euthanasia principles."

In other words Van Oijen had neither discussed euthanasia with his patient, nor did she request death, nor did Van Oijen consult another doctor.

Van Oijen was already well known to those knowledgeable about the euthanasia debate.

In 1994 Van Oijen achieved considerable notoriety for a documentary film, Death on Request (shown on Dutch television), which shows him actually performing euthanasia on a man with Lou Gehrig's disease. The film shows Van Oijen injecting a barbiturate into Kees van Wendel de Joode, followed by a muscle relaxant.

Ironically, though now officially guilty of murder, Van Oijen will go scot-free. The court said that although he had made an " error of judgment," Van Oijen had done what he thought best for his patient and therefore the court imposed no prison sentence.

The Royal Dutch Medical Association (RDMA) stood solidly behind Van Oijen. The RDMA defended his action as demonstrating " complete integrity."

There was a "huge emotional gulf" between what he had done and murder, the RDMA asserted.

Nonetheless, the unusual nature of the crime and the lack of punishment seems clearly to have given Dutch senators pause even as they seemed on the brink of easily approving the sweeping legislation sent to them by the lower House of Parliament. Pro- euthanasia groups expressed concern about possible fallout.

Ron Jonquiere, managing director of the Dutch Voluntary Euthanasia Society, told Reuters, "I'm sure the Van Oijen case will raise questions around the debate. In that way, it couldn't have come at a worse time." Added Jonquiere, "Our concern is that at the last moment, too many members of the Senate will reconsider their decisions - - not on the basis of being against euthanasia or against the law - - but by asking themselves if things are moving too fast."

Van Oijen was also found guilty of reporting his patient's death as the result of "natural causes." However, he was given only a modest fine, which was then suspended.

Demonstrating just how radical the proposed law actually is, it is considered a "compromise" that an earlier draft, which allowed children as young as 12 to request euthanasia in certain cases without the consent of their parents, was replaced with a section that says kids age 12 to 15 would need parental consent.

A final vote is expected in April.

Belgium

Meanwhile on March 20 in neighboring Belgium, an important Senate committee passed a measure very similar to that being considered in the Netherlands. The proposal was based on a draft law hammered out in January by senators from two parliamentary working groups.

In many ways the Belgians appear to be moving in near lockstep with the Dutch. A final vote in the Belgian Senate is also expected in April.

Brian Johnston, western regional director of National Right to Life and author of Death As A Salesman: What's Wrong With Assisted Suicide, has met with both Dutch and Belgian legislators.

"I would invite the pro-life movement in the United States not to just watch and wait, but to please pray for this important situation. If hearts are going to be changed, the time is now," he told NRL News.

Dutch anti-euthanasia organizations have asked that European versions of Johnston's new video, Death As A Salesman, be sent to key legislators. The video proved to be an extremely useful educational tool in last November's defeat of Maine's pro- euthanasia ballot measure, Question 1.

EDUCATE YOUR COMMUNITY ON THE DANGERS OF ASSISTED SUICIDE

Images have increasingly eclipsed the written word as America's primary source of information. Last fall, the video Death As A Salesman was shown not only in churches and community groups in Maine, but also aired on local television for free or at minimal cost. The video is credited with playing a major role in the very narrow defeat of an assisted suicide initiative.

If you would like to help educate your community to the profound dangers of assisted suicide and reach thousands in a relatively effort-free manner, public access broadcasting can be an exceptionally helpful vehicle.

Material outlining a local public education campaign is available when ordering copies of the video Death As A Salesman.

Videos are available directly from the production company for $18.95, plus $3.00 shipping. Contact New Regency at (800) 266- 5639 or (916) 349-3003.

When you contact New Regency, ask that the community education and church viewing materials be included with your order.