A Dutch legislator is seeking to permit healthy people to be euthanized through a new ‘completed life’ law. Dr Gordon MacDonald, Chief Executive of Care Not Killing has branded the expansion of the suicide law as “irresponsible, immoral and dangerous” and has warned how assisted suicide must never be permitted in the United Kingdom.
A Dutch legislator has submitted a Private Members Bill aiming to legalise ‘completed life’ euthanasia. If successful, the bill would allow people over 75 who feel that their life is complete to be euthanized, regardless of any physical ailment or suffering.
At present Dutch law states that a candidate may be eligible for euthanasia if they are facing “unbearable and endless suffering”, and have asked to die “earnestly and with full conviction”.
“The slippery slope is real”
In 2002, The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalise euthanasia.
Dr MacDonald said: “This proposal in the Netherlands is deeply troubling and shows why assisted suicide and euthanasia should never be legalised in the UK. The slippery slope is real and the Dutch euthanasia law has already been extended from the terminally ill to the chronically ill, from the mentally competent to the mentally incompetent and from adults to include children.
“The fastest growing category of euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands is those who are mentally ill but who have no physiological illness or condition. There was a 600% increase in this category of euthanasia deaths between 2012 and 2017.
“To now consider extending the euthanasia law to people who are just tired of life, and may well be depressed, is highly irresponsible, immoral and dangerous.”
Assisted suicide threat in the United Kingdom
Assisted suicide in the United Kingdom is currently illegal. However, in recent weeks, the UK has seen a resurgence of demands to change the law on assisted suicide.
Earlier this month, SPUC reported Shropshire MP Daniel Kawczynski who said he would be lobbying the Government to legalise assisted suicide. During the same week, Derbyshire woman, Mrs Munns also confirmed she would be calling on MPs launch an inquiry in the law which prohibits assisted suicide. Mrs Munns wants assisted suicide to be legal after her mother faced a criminal trial for helping her husband to die.
You can find more information about SPUCs campaign against assisted suicide here.