OWN CORRESPONDENT, The Hague | Wednesday
THE Dutch Senate has passed a law legalising euthanasia under certain conditions, making the Netherlands the first country in the world to allow mercy killing.
The passage of the legislation, which in fact authorises a practice that has been informally allowed in the country for years, was the target of a protest by 8_000 people – mostly from Christian groups – in front of the parliament building.
Carrying signs that read “When your life is ending, trust in God not the syringe”, the protesters mounted what was considered a futile action given the strong public support for the legislation. A recent public opinion poll indicated that 85% of people in the Netherlands favoured legalising euthanasia.
Under the new law, euthanasia would be allowed on medical recommendation under three conditions: that the patient’s condition is incurable, that the patient is of sound mind and fully agrees to the procedure, and that their suffering is considered unbearable.
Children aged 12 to 16 would need parental consent to end their lives voluntarily.
The vote on euthanasia marked the second time in less than six months that the Dutch parliament has grappled with ground-breaking legislation: in December, it adopted a bill legalising gay marriages.
Final approval would have to be given by regional health committees, which already exist and which have in effect been carrying out this function since 1996 when mercy killings became tolerated.
Most opposition to the legislation has come from church leaders and a petition signed by some 25_000 people.
Much of the public debate in The Netherlands has focused on the definition of “unbearable suffering” which can be either physical or mental. There are concerns about it applying to people suffering from depression who often see death as their only way out.
The practice of medically-assisted mercy killings has been in place for a number of years in the Netherlands.
Euthanasia for adults was partly decriminalised in May 1994. Since 1996 the authorities have turned a blind eye to it, although officially anyone found guilty of assisting in such deaths could technically face jail terms of up to 12 years.
Last year 2_123 mercy-killings were officially reported, some 89% of them carried out on people suffering from terminal cancer.
The real number is believed to be higher by several hundred cases since many doctors do not declare them, fearing legal action, said the justice ministry.
ZA*NOW:
50% support voluntary euthanasia March 22, 2001