Earlier this year, a disturbing poll found that 80% of respondents in the Netherlands support euthanasia or assisted suicide for anyone who feels their life is “complete,” but is otherwise healthy. Dutch doctors, however, apparently disagree.
In a move reminiscent of the idea of sending the elderly to “Elsewhere” in the Lois Lowry novel, “The Giver,” Democrats 66 (D66) submitted a bill late last year which would allow anyone over the age of 75 to be euthanized simply because they feel their life is “complete.” According to the NL Times, however, the Royal Dutch Medical Association (KNMG) opposes the idea, saying it puts the vulnerable elderly population at risk. “The facilitating of suicide for the elderly in a vulnerable position is not a responsible or desirable way,” the organization said, adding that the bill would signal “that life for the elderly is worth less than the life of younger people.”
This isn’t the first time the notion of euthanasia for a “completed life” has been proposed, nor is it the first time the KNMG has opposed it. That doesn’t mean that Dutch doctors oppose assisted suicide and euthanasia overall, however… or that they don’t mind other vulnerable populations being put at risk.
READ: Dutch doctors try to justify broadening assisted death by starvation
In 2021, the KNMG amended their position on euthanizing people with dementia, so it would be easier for doctors to kill them without legal backlash. That position change came after Marinou Arends faced charges; she forcibly euthanized a patient with dementia, first drugging her with a sedative and then killing her as her family held the patient down, all while the patient fought for her life. The elderly victim had an advance directive, saying she wanted to be euthanized if she was admitted to a nursing home due to dementia, and if she thought the time was right.
Arends claimed the woman said she wanted to die, but admitted she also said it was “going a bit far” when Arends repeatedly asked her if she wanted to be killed. Arends ignored the woman’s wishes, decided she was incompetent, and took action to kill her anyway.
Arends was cleared of all charges, and the KNMG took action to ensure more doctors can kill their patients with dementia in a similar manner. The Netherlands also allows autistic people, and others who feel they can’t lead a “normal” life, to be euthanized, along with terminally ill children. One-quarter of all deaths in the Netherlands are reportedly due to assisted death.
