The Hague, Netherlands — The euthanasia-control commissions in the Netherlands, the first country to have legalized the practice, reported an all-time low in the number of euthanasia cases last year, counting 1,882. In 2001, the commissions recorded 2,054 cases of euthanasia, and 2,123 the year before.
In April of last year, euthanasia became legal in the Netherlands.
The startling number of euthanasia cases has many Dutch residents carrying wallet cards asking doctors to do all they can to save their lives in case of an accident that leaves them unable to make decisions for themselves in an ER or operating room.
The number of reported incidents of euthanasia has dropped by 15 percent during the past four years, but it is suspected the actual “mercy killing” figure is double the amount of recorded cases.
Some 12 doctors have been cited by the commissions in the past four years for not complying with all the regulations, but to date none have received a summons from the public prosecutor.
A leading pro-life advocate on end-of-life issues was saddened by the report and said the figures are likely underreported.
“It is well known that many euthanasia cases are simply not reported in The Netherlands,” explained pro-life attorney Tom Marzen. “This may indicate an actual decline in the number of euthanasias — or simply more intentional or negligent failure to report euthanasia cases.”
This year's annual report by the commissions, published on April 29th, is the first since the new euthanasia law came into force. The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia, but the practice was tolerated for many years prior to this.
Under the new law, the specialist commissions rather than the public prosecutor's department decide whether doctors have compiled with the rules. This measure was intended to give doctors more legal certainty. But many doctors still do not trust the commissions and get annoyed and worried when the commission seeks additional information about specific cases.
The chairperson for the national body encompassing the five commissions, Reina de Valk, believes that this suspicion might distort the official euthanasia figures. De Valk said the actual number of cases might be double the recorded figure.
“Time is needed to win the confidence of doctors,” she said.
The Health Ministry is currently examining ways to tackle the number of unreported cases, newspaper De Volkskrant reported.
Meanwhile, the increased attention for prescribing painkillers might also have helped reduce the number of euthanasia cases.
(This article courtesy of Steven Ertelt and the Pro-Life Infonet email newsletter. For more information or to subscribe go to www.prolifeinfo.org or email infonet@prolifeinfo.org.)
