Support First Things by turning your adblocker off or by making a  donation. Thanks!

You have what almost amounts to death on demand in the Netherlands already with its euthanasia law, and it is still not enough. Now, some Dutch doctors have made detailed instructions for committing suicide available to the general public. From the story in the British Medical Journal (only link is Abstract):

A group of doctors and researchers has made its detailed advice on suicide available to the general public. The Foundation for Scientific Research into Careful Suicide [!!!] argues that “a requirement exists within society for responsible information about an independent and dignified ending of life.”...

The Dutch Medical Association says that the book offers a balance to the large amount of unreliable information available on the Internet. It recognizes that doctors may refer patients to the book as part of their obligation to provide information.

And get this:
..there are about 4400 cases each year of what it calls “autoeuthanasia,” where the doctor is not directly involved...The foundation’s book is targeted at people who do not meet the legal requirements for assisted suicide...They include elderly people who who feel that their life is complete but have no fatal illness and patients with a serious physical disease and a longstanding wish to die.
What more does it take to see where euthanasia and assisted suicide leads? The evidence is irrefutable. But facts don’t matter. Narratives do. And what have I got against “choice,” anyway?


Comments are visible to subscribers only. Log in or subscribe to join the conversation.

Tags

Loading...

Filter First Thoughts Posts

Related Articles