Doctors reluctant to help patients with dementia to die
Monday 27 June 2011
Only one third of Dutch doctors are prepared to administer euthanasia to people in the early stages of dementia, according to research by three of the country’s teaching hospitals for television current affairs show Nieuwsuur.
By law, euthanasia can only be carried out on people with dementia if they are in the early stages and capable of making their wishes plain.
In 2006, three people were helped to die because they had dementia. In 2010, 21 people asked for help to die.
In total, last year there were 2,700 registered cases of euthanasia, up from 1,900 in 2006, Nieuwsuur said.
Euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands under strict conditions. For example, the patient must be suffering unbearable pain and the doctor must be convinced the patient is making an informed choice. The opinion of a second doctor is also required.
© DutchNews.nl
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