Reports suggest that the clinic's managers are 'surprised' by this ruling. Who can question them? We can and we should question how a clinic that is set up precisely to service euthanasia requests, especially when no-one else wants to step up to the plate, can ever remain entirely objective.The existence of such a 'service', like with the Belgian mobile euthanasia teams, also points to the reality that there will always be those who will agree to a request. Doctor shopping is an inevitability made less demanding on time and resources by this 'one-stop-shop' in The Hague.The evaluation committee claims that a more thorough psychiatric evaluation should have been done. This was the same concern in the earlier two cases. Levenseindekliniek claimed that they had been thorough in their approach. Who can gainsay that claim with any certainty now?Tinnitis is a physical ailment that would no doubt create possible psychological problems for the sufferer. There are plenty of remedies available for tinnitus, but we do not see any reference to these in the media reports. But here in lies another problem: even if there were either psychological or medical remedies that might have helped this woman to one degree or another, neither she nor the other two persons nor anyone else is bound to accept any form of treatment. So this reliance on the nebulous term 'suffering unbearably' is utter nonsense. If I refuse therapy or treatment I may well claim to be 'suffering unbearably'. The fact that I may have brought this situation upon myself by refusing treatment and the possibility that I may be doing so because I am suicidal is not relevant here.Why then has the Euthanasia Evaluation Committee issued these three slaps on the wrist to this death facility? Not that these 'misdemeanours' seem to amount to much. In the whole time the Dutch euthanasia law has been in operation there has never been a prosecution.Could it be that the Euthanasia Evaluation Commissions are feeling under pressure from recent scrutiny? Professor Theo Boer, a former member of an evaluation committee for nine years, changed his mind completely in a very public about face last year. Moreover, the three cases which involved this death facility had all received media attention; not to mention the fact that even the most ardent supporters of the Dutch legislation will surely have raised eyebrows over euthanasia for tinnitus or for fear of a nursing home.The fact that the Levenseindekliniek were 'surprised' at this ruling is itself telling. When you set yourself up as the expert organisation you're claiming some level of expertise. But, of course, if you're reporting a case to the commission you would surely also want to be confident that the paperwork would pass scrutiny. If you were not confident that a euthanasia death was within the broadly excepted and expanding remit of the interpretation of the law, you would simply not complete any report. Who would ever know?While we welcome the commission's scrutiny and questioning of these cases it is far too early to tell whether it is a precursor to any attempt to rein in an out-of-control regimen. Related articles:Psychiatric euthanasia deaths tripled in the Netherlands.Dutch euthanasia law needs reform. Euthanasia is granted to people who have years to liveWhat happens once euthanasia becomes legal. The Netherlands experienceDutch woman euthanased who feared going to a nursing homeDutch Ethicist: "Assisted Suicide: Don't Go There" Continue reading

Overall, deaths by euthanasia, which officially account for three per cent of all deaths in the Netherlands, have increased by 151 per cent in just seven years. By Alex Schadenberg Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention CoalitionThis Friday, January 16, the British House of Lords will resume its debate on the assisted dying bill. Today, the Daily Mail published an extensive article on the euthanasia practise in the Netherlands. Continue reading

By Alex SchadenbergInternational Chair - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition For the past few years doctors in Belgium have linked organ donation to euthanasia. Now the Dutch media has reported that Edith Schippers, the Dutch Minister of Public Health supports the practice of euthanasia/organ donation.The media report stated: Continue reading

By Alex SchadenbergInternational Chair - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (article first appeared on Alex's Blog) An article published in the NL Times on November 7, reports that Theo Boer, an ethicist and former 9 year member of a Regional Euthanasia Review Committee in the Netherlands is stating that doctors, politicians and the review committees need to re-evaluate the euthanasia law.The NL Times articles begins by stating that Boer believes that: Continue reading

  From Alex Schadenberg's blog:International Chair - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Continue reading

By Alex SchadenbergInternational Chair - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition. The 2013 Netherlands euthanasia report was released today indicating a 15% increase of reported euthanasia deaths. There were also 42 euthanasia deaths for people with psychiatric problems and 97 euthanasia deaths for people with dementia.The 2013 report indicated that there were 4829 reported euthanasia deaths which was up from 4188 in 2012. As bad as it is, the reported euthanasia deaths do not include the unreported euthanasia deaths. Continue reading

  It's official. Like Belgium, The Netherlands has completely lost any sense of respect for the law and has leapt, lemming like off the moral cliff.Dutch news is reporting on the euthanasia death of an elderly woman who sought euthanasia because she did not want to live in a nursing home. Continue reading

  This excellent article about the volta face of euthanasia pioneers from support to downright opposition written by Licia Corbella and published in the Calgary Herald.Why euthanasia pioneers are changing their minds. Continue reading

We reported earlier on a UK Daily Mail article quoting Professor Boer and his volta face on euthanasia. Professor Boer is a Dutch ethicist and former supporter of Dutch euthanasia laws who is now telling Britain: Don't go there! This is the full text of Professor Boer's article as published by Alex Schadenberg with permission.By Professor Theo BoerAuthorized version, July 16, 2014 Continue reading

In an eleventh-hour intervention, former supporter of the Dutch Euthanasia laws and member of the Euthanasia Review Committee in The Netherlands, Professor Theo Boer tells Britain that he was wrong. This article from the UK Daily Mail: Don't make our mistake: As assisted suicide bill goes to Lords, Dutch watchdog who once backed euthanasia warns UK of 'slippery slope' to mass deaths.Legalising assisted suicide is a slippery slope toward widespread killing of the sick, MPs and peers were told yesterday. Continue reading