Assisted suicide lobby group boss jailed

A court in Almelo has sentenced the chairman of an assisted suicide lobby group to ten months in jail, eight suspended, for helping an 80-year-old woman kill herself, Nos reports on Friday.


The woman, who suffered from Parkinson’s disease, was in a home in Almelo and wanted to die. Both her doctor and a psychiatrist refused to help her end her life, Nos said.
In 2007, her son made contact with the SVL foundation. The chairman gave the son phenobarbital, which he administered to his mother.
The court ruled that euthanasia can only be practised by doctors, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
The foundation itself was fined €25,000, with €20,000 payable if it is involved in another case.
Earlier on Friday it emerged that the number of reported euthanasia cases in the Netherlands rose 10% last year.

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