Euthanasia and Organ Donation in the Netherlands.

By Alex Schadenberg

International Chair - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Alex Schadenberg

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:

Minister Edith Schippers of Public Health is working on a protocol to guide people who want to donate organs after their euthanasia. 

This means, for example, that they will not be able to die at home, but will have to die in the hospital. The doctor should also perform the euthanasia in the hospital. The guidelines established for this is a practical implementation of laws, said Schippers. The first version of the guidelines was written by the Rotterdam Erasmus MC and the University Hospital of Maastricht (MUMC).

Euthanasia/organ donation can become a form of coercion to die by euthanasia.

It is one thing to kill someone as a false means to a "good death," it is another thing to kill someone to improve public health.

Euthanasia/Organ Donation can coerce people with disabilities who are not terminally ill to die by euthanasia. Studies in Belgium indicate that people who have neurological conditions, mental or psychological issues or dementia make excellent organ donors, especially when linked to euthanasia because the organs are healthier than those from people who were terminally ill or nearing death.

Combining euthanasia with Organ Donation will cause fear that physicians will become willing to kill a person for their healthy organs.

Professor Theo Boer, who was a member of a Regional Euthanasia Review Committee for nine years, recently changed his mind and now opposes euthanasia. In his article, Assisted Suicide - Don't Go There, Boer stated:

I used to be a supporter of euthanasia. But now, with twelve years of experience, I take a different view.

Euthanasia in the Netherlands was originally legalized based for the "hard cases." Boer argues that the number of euthanasia deaths, and the reasons for euthanasia have greatly expanded since the introduction of the Netherlands euthanasia law in 2002.

Links to more information:

• Quebec's euthanasia bill (Bill 52) is based on the Belgian euthanasia law.
• Disabled euthanasia organ donors.
• Altruistic assisted suicide - Surely you can't be serious.
• Assisted suicide: Don't Go There.