Re: ‘Assisted suicide would court a culture of death’ (letter, The NEWS, Jan. 12.)
It is time to clarify the status of the euthanasia laws in the Netherlands. Firstly, this is not an experiment, as the letter suggests. It has been in place since 2002, and is generally experienced in the country as unproblematic and good to have as an option. What is more, the rules are currently being extended, with broad support in the population. The extension deals with options to firmly request euthanasia in an earlier stage in life, not only ‘just before,’ which is often problematic due to issues like dementia. People now get the possibility to set their rules earlier. Just having dementia is still not enough: there must also be unbearable suffering.
I would like to see documentation of what the letter writer called “reported abuses in these nations.” It smells like something that opponents tend to throw out there, without really knowing any facts. In 2010, for example, the Netherlands had 2,667 requests for euthanasia, and in only nine of those, it was found that the physician had not acted in accordance with the due care criteria. This is not abuse, but lack of knowledge of the law.
One more example is the writer’s comment: “…and the growing reality of non-voluntary euthanasia.” Where does that come from? It is complete nonsense. You cannot make up facts to support your views.
Statistically, about three per cent Netherlands deaths are by euthanasia, which is a lot less than under palliative sedation (about 30 per cent). Of the euthanasia cases, about 40 per cent shortened life (estimated) by less than a week, and another 40 per cent by between one week and one month.
Roy JonkerQualicum Beach
