The physical conditions in Holland did not change much in a single year.
Three obvious reasons spring to mind.
First, the actual euthanasia rate did not change but the reporting rate increased. That seems unlikely since an unreported incident leaves an unexplained corpse and a potential police investigation.
Second, euthanasia became less stigmatised and so was adopted more freely -- a possibility but one unlikely to account for a 13 % rise in one year.
Third, social workers or doctors encourage euthanasia more because of external issues (hospital funding etc).
I must say I think the third option the most likely; it's also the least palatable.
Euthanasia cases in Holland have increased by 13 per cent in the last year, new figures have shown.
Last year a total of 2,636 Dutch people were killed by euthanasia, with 80 per cent of cases involving people dying at home after their doctors administered a lethal dose of drugs.
This compares to 2,331 reported deaths by euthanasia in 2008, which saw a 10 per cent rise on 2007.
In 2003, the year after Holland became the first country in the world to legalise the practice since the fall of Nazi Germany, there were 1,815 reported cases.
Euthanasia is usually carried out by administering a strong sedative to put the patient in a coma, followed by a drug to stop breathing and cause death. To qualify patients must be in unbearable pain and their doctor convinced they are making an informed choice. The opinion of a second doctor is also required.
Dutch medics have been accused of applying a liberal interpretation of the law and practising euthanasia on demand, sometimes killing people who cannot properly consent.
Jan Suyver, chairman of the government's euthanasia monitoring commission, said the rising number of cases came as the "taboo" once attached to euthanasia began to fade.
"It could also be that doctors are more likely to report it," he said.
Anti-euthanasia groups say, however, that the sharp increase is probably be linked to the collapse of the palliative care system in the Netherlands following the legalisation of euthanasia eight years ago.
Phyllis Bowman, the executive officer of Right to Life, said: "I am sure that the increase in numbers of people opting for euthanasia is largely a result of inadequate pain control."
1 comment:
At least in Holland patients have the right. Here in Canada we don't.
It is interesting that the leftists here believe they have the moral highground when arguing that a woman has the right to control her own body when it comes to abortion (though not all believe this) but when it comes to a woman terminating her own life these same leftists couldn't care less.Should not the right to choose equally apply in euthanasia?
Guess not. We cherrypick which rights woman ought to have.
I am willing to bet that the number of cases of euthanasia in Holland will drop next year. It may just be a statistical blip.
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