Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
A Netherlands Regional euthanasia Review Committee has decided that a forced euthanasia done on a woman with dementia, where the doctor sedated the woman by secretly putting the drugs in her coffee, was done in "good faith." The committee chair is also urging that the case be reviewed by the court, not to punish the doctor, but to set a precedent concerning these acts.
Guilia Crouch stated in her report in the Mail online:
The doctor secretly placed a soporific in her coffee to calm her, and then had started to give her a lethal injection.
Yet while injecting the woman she woke up, and fought the doctor. The paperwork showed that the only way the doctor could complete the injection was by getting family members to help restrain her.
It (the paperwork) also revealed that the patient said several times 'I don't want to die' in the days before she was put to death, and that the doctor had not spoken to her about what was planned because she did not want to cause unnecessary extra distress. She also did not tell her about what was in her coffee as it was also likely to cause further disruptions to the planned euthanasia process.
The Review Committee concluded that the doctor 'has crossed the line' by giving her the first sleeping medicine, and also should have stopped when the woman resisted.Janene Pieters reporting for The Netherlands Times stated:
The review committee determined that the woman's declaration in her will did not clearly state that she wanted to be euthanized after being admitted to a nursing home. The words "when I myself find it the right time" does not take into account a situation in which the woman was no longer mentally competent. The committee can understand how the doctor read it as a well-considered wish, but still feels that it was too broad an interpretation.
The committee also concluded that the doctor "crossed a line" by giving the woman the first dose of sedative secretly - hidden in a cup of coffee. And that the doctor should have stopped at the woman's movements at the end. Even though it is possible that the movements were purely physical reactions, it can not be certain.Jacob Kohnstamm, who is the chair of the Regional euthanasia Review Committee, wants the case brought to court to create a precedent to enable other doctors to lethally inject people with dementia, without consent, and without fear of legal repercussions. According to the article in the Mail online:
Kohnstamm said he was in favour of a trial: 'Not to punish the doctor, who acted in good faith and did what she had to do, but to get judicial clarity over what powers a doctor has when it comes to the euthanasia of patients suffering from severe dementia.'Purchase the Euthanasia Deception documentary.
So lets, examine the facts surrounding this death by lethal injection:
- The woman had dementia and was incapable of asking for euthanasia,
- The declaration in her will was not clear,
- She stated several times that she did not want to die,
- She was not informed that a sedative was put in her coffee,
- Her family was required to hold her down so the doctor could lethally inject her.
- The Regional Review Committee found that it was done in "good faith."
- The Regional Review Committee wants the court to hear the case to set a precedent approving the lethal injection of people with dementia, who cannot consent.
As I have said in the past, euthanasia is out-of-control in the Netherlands.
Dear Alex,
ReplyDeleteThis story is almost too shocking to believe... I tried following the links to the source, but I soon ran into Dutch sites that I could not interpret. Do you have any confirmation that these news have been officially verified? I would be unhappy to propagate "fake news". If these news are correct, then the dreadful scenario of "forced euthanasia" (a contradiction in terms, given that euthanasia in the Dutch definition is based on voluntariness...) has actually come to pass. No longer scaremongering.
Best wishes,
Morten Horn, neurologist and ethics researcher, Oslo, Norway
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear Alex,
ReplyDeleteNo matter how they slice and dice it this was, if it actually happened. a case of murder. That doctor should have been charged with the appropriate crime. The sad reality is that no matter how we look at it in Canada, the fact is that there are no safeguards against Euthanasia. Even though I would not want to be put to death, the reality is that the Doctors will go to the surviving children and give them a choice.... Either you pay "x" amount per day to keep your parent here or remove him or her. Or, if the children cannot afford to look after the parent themselves or pay for a nursing home, we can do it for you and voila, tomorrow, the parent no longer lives.Euthanasia, is legalized murder. As our Health Care Network and Governments struggle with the rising costs associated with looking after our elders, they will simply take the view .... Well, they have lived their lives, they have contributed and paid their taxes, now they can't so, let's get rid of them.
Sean L. Tobin
Alex:
ReplyDeleteIf the family 'held her down' for the lethal injection, wouldn't they be held accountable or as responsible for her death and participating in this murder? Also, is there any indication that family members would benefit (financial, etc.) from this woman's death?
There is good reason for the Biblical command '' You shall do no murder.'' (Exodus 20:13) Not only is human life sacred, but there is an afterlife, and each person has both the right and the need to prepare for it. This lady clearly do not feel ready to die. The actions of both family and doctor in this case are reprehensible - but even more so a society that believes it is ok to flout the laws of God in the name of 'humanity' and personal convenience. Beyond tragic.
ReplyDeleteLiving life with dementia is a terrible thing. Despite the probable fact that people with dementia are better cared for in the Netherlands than in the facility I know, it is probably still terrible. However, we don't know this for sure. There might be a meaning to it, as there might be a meaning to living with different forms of suffering. It is not our decision to end a human life in whatever form, shape, or condition.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine restraining my parent to do this. Doesn't sound like the "peaceful goodnight" that pro-euthanasia promises. Were her children all on board with this?
ReplyDeleteWhat saddens me here is that her "dementia" was not severe enough that she clearly clearly knew what was happening to her. How horrible for her to die so violently at the hands of the people who she should be protected by at the end of her life. On my mother in laws 80th birthday I had occasion to visit with one of her best friends who was married to a WW11 vet. All of them in the facility were concerned that at some point, officials will come for them one night with a needle. They believe the sicker ones in other homed will be taken first, then them. They think it is only a matter of time. How dad our own elders in Canada think this. We have to redouble our efforts to fight this law.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that people all over the world are being 'removed' because of the cost to the Hospital, the Facility, the Government, the People, the Relatives, etc., etc., etc.
ReplyDeleteIn earlier days, families used to take care of their sick relatives at home. I know this looks like a fairly simplistic solution to get people out of government care, and I know it would not suit everybody, given the need for some of the Offspring to work and earn money, but I think it should be considered more than it is. The mentality now is that parents have to go to a Nursing Home, and the cost can be horrendous, and it may be easier to get it over and done and so be free. Sure, this is a bit of a generalisation, but I think that we need to get back to keeping our parents with us, and so potentially keeping our parents alive. Modified houses, community care, respite for carers, training on how to deal with an ageing relative. This is very basic stuff.
Darlla Baker said
ReplyDeleteMy heart hurts for that poor woman. I agree with Carmela Hutchison, If she could recognize what they were doing, she could not have been that far gone. I stayed with my Mom til she passed, at 96. She had dementia. And it is a hard thing to witness. But I loved her. She went home when God took her.
I could have NEVER allowed ANYONE to take my Mom's life just because she had dementia. Unless a person asks for euthanasia in their will,specifically...no one has the right to force them to die!
I cannot even imagine how she felt seeing her own family killing her at her last moments on earth...trust me just because their neurons are not connecting doesn't mean inside they don't know whats going on.
My Mom was a "Rosie Rivitor" and deserved to pass on with honor and dignity. She Was a Spaniard who Became an American Citizen and Proud of it. God Bless you Mom.