Netherlands 2021 euthanasia deaths increase by 10.5% to 7666. 115 euthanasia deaths for mental illness.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Dutchnews.NL reported that the number of euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands increased by 10.5% in 2021 to 7666. Last year's Netherlands euthanasia report indicated that there were 6938 reported euthanasia deaths in 2020 which was up by 9% from 6361 in 2019.

There may be many unreported euthanasia deaths. Research indicates that 20% - 23% of the Netherlands euthanasia deaths are not reported.

The Dutchnews report indicated that there were 206 reported euthanasia deaths for early stage dementia and 6 reported euthanasia deaths for late stage dementia and 115 reported euthanasia deaths for severe mental illness.

The Dutchnews report also stated that 7 reported euthanasia deaths did not fit the legal criteria of the law and yet none of these doctors lost their medical license or were censured in some other manner.

In December 2021 the Dutch Medical Association approved euthanasia for incompetent people who had made an advanced request.

In February 2022, a member of the euthanasia lobby was arrested in the Netherlands for selling a suicide powder that resulted in at least 4 deaths.

In 2021, a further 206 patients with earlier stage dementia were helped to die, as were 115 people with severe psychiatric illness. The vast majority of people had terminal cancer.

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