Euthanasia still a taboo for mental patients – even in the Netherlands
“People suffering from an incurable mental disease have the same legal right to euthanasia as physically terminally ill patients in the Netherlands, but they almost never get it.”
Practitioners reviewed the situation of mental patients and euthanasia at a symposium organized by the Right to Die-NL foundation in the Dutch town of Ede on Monday. Two cases came before the regional euthanasia review committees last year, of an estimated 200 – 300 mental patients who asked for euthanasia.
“The suffering of psychiatric patients can be just as intolerable as many forms of physical suffering,” said Eugene Sutorius, a professor of criminal law and a former president of the foundation.”
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http://www.nrc.nl/international/Features/article2422766.ece/Euthanasia_still_a_taboo_for_mental_patients_-_even_in_the_Netherlands
