Lonely and poor....Dutch physicians will euthanize you..

Are you lonely and poor....there is an answer for you according to  Dutch Physicians Association. You can qualify to be euthanized.  In the Netherlands, non medical considerations such as income and loneliness are reasons to consider requesting physician assisted suicide.  No terminal illness or medical condition is required.  This is a sad commentary on our society. Can't happen here? Don't bet on it.

Smith: Dutch Suicide Advocates Set Up Clinic of Death

Dutch Suicide Advocates Set Up Clinic of Death

Friday, January 28, 2011, 11:32 AM

Wesley J. Smith

The Netherlands is a lovely country where many people have eschewed true compassion–the root meaning of which is to “suffer with”–to promote suicide as the answer to human difficulty.  Euthanasia is available via lethal injection for the terminally ill, the chronically ill, people with serious disabilities, and the despairing who are not physically sick.  Infanticide is illegal, but allowed.  Non voluntary mercy killing by doctors is a routine event, with several a day according to studies. The Dutch Supreme Court approved assisted suicide for a woman who wanted to be buried between her two dead children.
One would think that would at last be enough “compassionate” killing, thank you very much. Nope.  Once a culture embraces this brand of nihilism, the appetite for suicide-as-the-answer is never satiated.  Now, some Dutch suicide activists–can you imagine?–are setting up a clinic for those whose doctors won’t make them dead. From Bioedge:

The Dutch voluntary euthanasia society (NVVE) is planning to open an eight-person clinic in 2012 where people can go to end their lives. It estimates that about 1,000 people a year would take advantage of its facilities.  It would cater for people whose doctors have refused to euthanase them. Not only people with an incurable illness, but also people with chronic psychiatric conditions and dementia would be welcome.

Some Dutch doctors are already in the business, compassionately giving their suicidal patients a how to do it yourself guide if they won’t do the deed themselves. They even gave it a name: Autoeuthanasia.
The Dutch like to think of themselves as enlightened leaders of society into modern ways.  I worry they are right. Culture of death, Wesley?  What culture of death?

Dr. Mark: Dutch Surprised that euthanasia is on the rise?? Why??

From: http://drmarkaliveandkicking.blogspot.com/

 

Ahead of the official release of last year’s euthanasia stats in the Netherlands, the Dutch press is reporting that euthanasia is on the increase over previous years.

What surprises me is that the Dutch authorities continue to be surprised by the increase.

Let’s see:

Take the social taboo of euthanasia, allow it to happen undercover, then tut-tut that instead of happening behind closed doors, it should be regulated and ‘transparent.” This doltish idea was meant to ensure that undercover euthanasia was stopped and only happened under very rare and highly controlled circumstances.

It hasn’t turned out that way, as some of us predicted years ago.

Here’s the slippery slope:

First, euthanasia was meant for only those adults who were terminally ill and in unbearable and uncontrollable physical pain.

Then, euthanasia was allowed for those with unbearable physical pain, even if it could be controlled, and even f they were not terminally ill.

Then euthanasia was allowed for those who were not only not terminally ill, but for people in no physical pain whatsoever – psychological pain, controllable or not, was enough.

Then the age limit was extended to adolescents.

So, from DutchNews.nl:

The number of reported deaths by euthanasia rose 13% last year to 2,636, following an increase of 10% in 2008, the NRC reports, quoting figures due to be published at the beginning of July.

The 2008 increase led the health ministry to set up an investigation into the increase. That investigation is due to start this month.

This is not the whole macabre picture, either: These stats reflect ONLY patients who requested to be killed.

It does not include hundreds, and perhaps thousands, who are euthanized even though they never requested it.

It does not include the hundreds of newborns with disabilities that are murdered under the so-called Groningen Protocol.

It does not include legalized assisted suicides.

Here’s the truth: Euthanasia is now increasingly accepted as just another medical procedure. The social constraints have collapsed.

Need any more proof?

A recent survey in the Netherlands showed that there was strong public sentiment for making euthanasia available for anyone over 70 even if the only reason to die was because they were “tired” of living.

One final point: No, we’re not at the bottom of the slippery slope. It will get worse.