Netherlands report rejects proposed euthanasia for completed life.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The NL Times reported today that the Netherlands Council of State published a report from December 2020, explaining why they rejected a "completed life" bill that was sponsored by the D66 MP Pia Dijkstra.

According to the Council of State report:

it is important to establish that people really want to die, have thought about it thoroughly, no longer have any doubts, and that their wish for death is not related to other issues, like financial problems

The Completed Life bill proposed to permit assisted suicide for a person who is competent, at least 75 years-old, with a two month waiting period and the request must be voluntary and well considered.

The Council of State thought that the two month waiting period was insufficient, they questioned the 75 year-old limit and they decided that there must be "no reasonable other solution" available to alleviate the suffering and remove the wish to die.

The "Completed Life" bill was sponsored by former D66 MP Pia Dijkstra. The D66 political party stated that they will study the recommendations.