Euthanasia for Psychological Sufferingโ on the Rise in the Netherlands
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New data reveals an increasing number of euthanasia cases in the Netherlands are related to mental health conditions, includingโข aโ concerning rise among young โpeople.
Disparity in Approvals
While dutch law does โnot differentiate between physical adn mental suffering when considering euthanasia, approvals are significantlyโ more common for somatic illnesses, according to Rob Edens of the โคDutch Association for Euthanasia. “The euthanasia law makes no distinction between suffering from aโ somaticโ or mental illness, but euthanasia isโข granted much more often in physical diseases,”โข Edens stated.
Growing Numbers of Cases
despite the disparity, euthanasia for psychological suffering is becoming increasingly prevalent. In โข2024, โขthere were โ219 reported cases, with 30 involving individuals under the age of 30. This represents a significant increase from 2020,whenโค 80 cases were reported,five of โwhich were younger than 30.
A Complex andโฃ Rigorous Process
The Euthanasia Expertiseโข Center, โresponsible โfor evaluatingโฃ half of all requests from psychiatric patients, emphasizesโ the complexity of these cases. The process involves months,โ and frequently enough years, of intensive conversations between doctors, nurses, โคand patients, exploring their suffering, life โperspectives, and desires for death.
Ultimately, after โฃthorough inquiry, euthanasia is granted to approximately 1 in 10โค patients.however, this rate isโค significantly lower forโค young people.
Multiple Layers of Review
Edens explains the additional safeguards in place for cases involvingโ psychological suffering: “In regular euthanasia cases, a second, โautonomous doctor must watch whether all the regulations and care requirements have been met inโ addition โคto the executive doctor. With euthanasia due to psychological suffering, a third doctor with โpsychiatric expertise is added. He looksโ at whether all the fairly conceivableโ about treatments has been.” This multi-doctor review ensures a comprehensive assessment โof all available treatment options.