The Dutch euthanasia regulations should be adopted in other countries.
According to Korrevaar & Heins (2019) the demand for euthanasia in the Netherlands has grown
significantly after the introduction of the Dutch Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide
Act in 2002(Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid, 2017). Before this act, euthanasia was committed
around 2000 times per year. In 2017, the cases increased to around 6500 per year (Korevaar & Heins,
2019). So if the demand for this procedure is so high, the Dutch euthanasia regulations should be
adopted in other countries.
Throughout America, euthanasia is still illegal moreover assisted suicide is only legal in a couple of
states (The New York Times, 2015). There are strict rules for this assisted suicide, the patient has to
be mentally competent and only has to have six months left to live. The doctor can only prescribe the
medication, but can’t administer it (Death with Dignity, 2020). In the Netherlands euthanasia and
assisted suicide are both legal under specific circumstances. The physician has to make sure that the
request is voluntary and well considered, that the suffering is unbearable and that there is no
prospect of improvement (Kroneman et al., 2016). I think euthanasia and assisted suicide provide a
more peaceful way to die. Terminally ill patients can choose when and where they want to die. In the
states of America where assisted suicide is illegal, patients can only refuse food, water and treatment
when they want to die (HOPE No Euthanasia, 2015). In my opinion, this is a cruel choice to make.
In Switzerland assisted suicide is legal. Even patients from other countries can go to Switzerland for
this procedure. This puts a lot of pressure on the nurses and clinics (J. Capel, personal
communication, February 15, 2021). Switzerland is the only country which accepts foreign patients
for this procedure. For a doctor to support assisted suicide, the patient must be suffering intolerably
from a severe illness, and also have a documented medical diagnosis. However, there is no need for
the illness to be terminal. A life expectancy limit for euthanasia does not exist either, unlike America.
The person or organization that will support the assisted suicide does have to make sure that the
patient is mentally competent, not suffering from depression, and that the request is completely
voluntary (Cheatle, 2019). In the Netherlands, euthanasia or assisted suicide can’t be preformed on
patients from other countries (Kroneman et al., 2016). For patients who are suffering from dementia,
it is possible to get euthanasia. This can only be done if the patient made an advance directive, and
the patient is suffering with no prospect of improvement (Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid, 2017).
In conclusion, I think that the Dutch euthanasia regulations should be adopted in other countries.
This way, patients do not have to choose between suffering and committing suicide. Patients can die
with dignity surrounded by family. Euthanasia should not be open for foreign patients, because the
pressure on our healthcare system will increase and physicians will not know the patient well enough
to determine the extent of suffering.
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