Dangerous "Completed Life" bill would extend euthanasia in the Netherlands to healthy people.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

A bill to extend euthanasia in the Netherlands to people who are healthy, but "tired of living" was submitted by Pia Dykstra (D66 party). An article by Janene Pieters in the NL Times reported that:

The legislative proposal allows people over the age of 75 who feel that they have come to the end of their life and have a persistent wish to die to ask for euthanasia.

Typical of media bias, the bill does not give people who are 75 the right to ask for euthanasia, but rather it gives them the right to die by euthanasia.

Dykstra was reported as stating that the completed life euthanasia law would only be for a small group of people. Pieters reported:

"It is a small group, someone must be at least 75 years old. In addition, as a result of the Van Wijngaarden committee, I put extra emphasis in my law on the professional end-of-life counselor, who enters into discussions with people about their wish to die. He does not assess whether it is possible, but looks where that wish comes from and whether there are alternatives. I also pay more attention to the family and the general practitioner or treating doctor."

Pieters reported that Harry van der Molen (CDA party) told the Telegraaf news:

"As far as the CDA is concerned, there will be no completed life law, but we will tackle the causes of loneliness. Especially when people feel alone, abandoned or lost, they need attention or care."

The bill uses the edge of a wedge strategy. If passed it would soon be discriminatory to deny death by lethal drugs to a 74 year-old or even a 44 year-old who fit the criteria. 

Considering that recently the Netherlands Supreme Court approved the euthanasia death of a woman with dementia who resisted, extending euthanasia to people who are healthy but who believe that their life has lost meaning is dangerous and will lead to suicide on demand.

The NL Times article also focuses on how the new euthanasia legislation may affect the Netherlands government coalition that is composed of VVD, CDA, D66 and ChristenUnie parties. While the bill has been submitted by the D66 the CDA and ChristenUnie party members oppose it. The "completed life" bill may split the coalition government and cause an election.

Completed life has been debated in the Netherlands for several years. Recently a group of American euthanasia activists started their own completed life initiative. The end goal of the nihilistic euthanasia lobby is suicide on demand.