by Paul Russell: Once you create a situation at law where killing of another person is allowed in certain circumstances, not only will the circumstances in which such killing is endorsed or allowed change over time, but the boundaries, however originally drawn, will be entirely ineffective in providing moral, legal and ethical guidance and restraint.In Belgium and The Netherlands in the thousands of euthanasia deaths since their laws came into being in 2002 few cases have ever been referred by the review systems to justice for further scrutiny. In Belgium that number is one; one case only. Continue reading

by Paul Russell: Hot upon the heels of the news that the first reported case of euthanasia for a minor took place recently in Belgium, comes the news from Holland that a 'centre for euthanasia in children' is expected to open in that country within 12 months. Dutch Health Minister, Edith Schippers earmarked 400,000 Euros in May this year for a study on the matter.What is it they say about an inquiry? Never start one unless you know the answer beforehand? Continue reading

by Paul Russell: There's a question that I have put to those who are pushing for euthanasia and assisted suicide laws on occasion. Put simply I ask: If you are successful in your push for law reform on this subject, will you celebrate your victory and then close down your organisation? After all, if the objective is reached, what else is there to do?I expect that there would be 'rank-and-file' members of the various societies and organisations on this bandwagon who may well think: job done, back to the gardening (or other pursuits). But not so the leadership. Continue reading

by Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition. With Paul Russell The 2015 Netherlands euthanasia report that was recently released states that there were 5561 reported euthanasia deaths in 2015, up from 5306 in 2014, there were 109 reported euthanasia deaths for dementia, up from 81 in 2014, and there were 56 reported euthanasia deaths for psychiatric reasons, up from 41 in 2014.Shockingly, a woman who died by euthanasia for psychiatric reasons in 2015 was in her 20's and had been sexually abused. Continue reading

Alex Schadenberg Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition The Netherlands 2015 Euthanasia report indicates that euthanasia deaths continue to increase. According to the 2015 report, there were 5561 reported euthanasia deaths in 2015 up from 5306 reported euthanasia deaths in 2014.Since 2006, there has been a 289% increase in euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands. Continue reading

Alex Schadenberg Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition In July 2014, Professor Theo Boer, who was member for nine years of a regional review committee in the Netherlands, wrote an article that was published in the Daily Mail urging the British parliament to reject assisted suicide. Boer then gave the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition permission to publish the full text of his article titled "Assisted Suicide: Don't go there." On March 28. Professor Boer published a significant critique of the Netherlands Euthanasia law under the title: Rushing toward death? Continue reading

by Paul Russell: In a recent interview for a Portuguese television network, Dutch Professor Theo Boer gave, for mine, the clearest explanation yet of the situation in both Belgium and The Netherlands.The interview opens with Boer giving an overview: "For a considerable number of people, euthanasia has become part of their lifestyle; it has to do with controlling your destiny. In the beginning euthanasia was seen as a last resort in a situation of extreme physical suffering. Now, increasingly, euthanasia is considered to be a patient's right and is considered by some even to be a fashionable death."This from a man who not only once supported the Dutch euthanasia laws and who, for many years until 2014, was also a member of one of the Dutch Regional Euthanasia Evaluation Committees overseeing the practice of the law. "I was also relieved that I could quit because, in the last couple of years (I quit in 2014) I had considerable problems with my conscience because I saw that people were being euthanized in cases where, in my opinion, it was not necessary." QCg9kJ2m0mc Continue reading