Euthanasia is currently at the centre of an important moral debate across both the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
The British Debate
The Royal College of Physicians recently announced a neutral stance towards assisted dying. However, the legality of assisted death continues to be debated.
Most notably, 2018 saw Noel Conway lose a legal battle for his right to die.
Dignity in Dying is a UK based campaigning organisation. They are campaigning to change the current euthanasia law.
They want to allow assisted dying as an option for individuals suffering from terminal illnesses.
City News talked to Ellie Ball. She is Dignity in Dying’s Media and Campaigns Officer:
“Our campaign is aimed at helping terminally ill people to die well.”
“We are not campaigning for widening the criteria to include people with other conditions.”
“I think the answer for people suffering from psychiatric conditions is mental health treatment. After all, they are not terminally dying.”
Lesley’s story
Lesley Close works closely with Dignity in Dying. She lost her brother John to motor neuron disease.
John Close chose to end his life through euthanasia in 2008. He was the seventh British person to go to Dignitas in Switzerland.
Lesley told City News why it is important to give individuals like her brother John the right to die.
“John had lost the power of speech. He couldn’t move, he couldn’t turn over in bed, he couldn’t swallow. It was only right that John should have been given the right to die.”
“I don’t see how mental illness can become a criteria for an assisted death because it’s not a terminal illness.”
“This is all about safeguards at the end of life. So if we can have four simple rules, terminal illness, mental competence, adult and suffering intolerably, I think that’s a safe place to start from.”
The Netherlands Debate
Professor Theo Boer is an ethics professor at the Theological Protestant University, based in Amsterdam.
He is one of the most outspoken critics who is against the current euthanasia law in the Netherlands.
Boer sat on the committee board which legalised euthanasia in the Netherlands in 2002.
He now expresses doubts towards legal euthanasia entirely.
“I am of the position of whether it is wise to legalise euthanasia at all. I think it sets in motion a normalisation of self-controlled death.”
“Euthanasia continues to be something very complicated. It may also create a situation we did not anticipate.”
“I would say to countries who are considering legalising euthanasia to look at the situation in the Netherlands. Ask yourselves whether this is a situation you want to be in within twenty years from now.”
Jeanette’s story
Jeanette Croonen has first hand experience of these issues.
She lost her daughter Monique to suicide as she couldn’t get euthanasia treatment, going on to co-found the Dutch Foundation for Psychiatry.
She says in a powerful interview to City News, “My daughter always said I want to smash my head against the wall so that I don’t feel the pain in my head.”
“I think somebody who is mentally ill suffers as much as somebody who is physically ill. It’s even worse, it can be more suffering.”
“It’s very serious the pain you get when you are mentally ill. When you don’t get euthanasia in my opinion people kill themselves anyway.”
A psychiatrist’s perspective
Johan Huisman also works for the Dutch Foundation for Psychiatry. He is a psychiatrist.
Huisman was one of the first to refer someone for euthanasia in the Netherlands for mental health reasons.
He says, “Often there is much discussion concerning a slippery slope regarding euthanasia and assisted suicide.”
“Other countries like the UK can learn about the twenty years experience our country has had with euthanasia.”
“As a psychiatrist you have to differentiate individuals who have an impulsive wish to die and those who want to die because they are experiencing unbearable suffering.”
“I don’t think the Netherlands is going down a slippery slope.”
What about the future?
But Professor Theo Boer has concerns. He is fearful about the future direction the euthanasia debate is taking in the Netherlands.
“We can state without any doubt that there is a slippery slope.”
“One thing that illustrates this slippery slope is the introduction of the completed life law by our former Minister of Health.”
“This would enable any citizen over the age of seventy to have euthanasia or assisted suicide.”
The current UK debate is very different. It is still illegal to have euthanasia treatment even if diagnosed with a terminal illness.
This follows the rejection of the Assisted Dying Bill in 2016 which if passed would have legalised euthanasia treatment for terminally ill adults.
Tune in to City Breakfast for more on this investigation.
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HeadlineCity Investigates: Euthanasia – A Slippery Slope?
Short HeadlineCity Investigates: Euthanasia - A Slippery Slope?
StandfirstThe number of young people suffering with mental health seeking euthanasia treatment is rising in multiple countries.
Euthanasia is currently at the centre of an important moral debate across both the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
The British Debate
The Royal College of Physicians recently announced a neutral stance towards assisted dying. However, the legality of assisted death continues to be debated.
Most notably, 2018 saw Noel Conway lose a legal battle for his right to die.
Dignity in Dying is a UK based campaigning organisation. They are campaigning to change the current euthanasia law.
They want to allow assisted dying as an option for individuals suffering from terminal illnesses.
City News talked to Ellie Ball. She is Dignity in Dying’s Media and Campaigns Officer:
“Our campaign is aimed at helping terminally ill people to die well.”
“We are not campaigning for widening the criteria to include people with other conditions.”
“I think the answer for people suffering from psychiatric conditions is mental health treatment. After all, they are not terminally dying.”
Lesley’s story
Lesley Close works closely with Dignity in Dying. She lost her brother John to motor neuron disease.
John Close chose to end his life through euthanasia in 2008. He was the seventh British person to go to Dignitas in Switzerland.
Lesley told City News why it is important to give individuals like her brother John the right to die.
“John had lost the power of speech. He couldn’t move, he couldn’t turn over in bed, he couldn’t swallow. It was only right that John should have been given the right to die.”
“I don’t see how mental illness can become a criteria for an assisted death because it’s not a terminal illness.”
“This is all about safeguards at the end of life. So if we can have four simple rules, terminal illness, mental competence, adult and suffering intolerably, I think that’s a safe place to start from.”
The Netherlands Debate
Professor Theo Boer is an ethics professor at the Theological Protestant University, based in Amsterdam.
He is one of the most outspoken critics who is against the current euthanasia law in the Netherlands.
Boer sat on the committee board which legalised euthanasia in the Netherlands in 2002.
He now expresses doubts towards legal euthanasia entirely.
“I am of the position of whether it is wise to legalise euthanasia at all. I think it sets in motion a normalisation of self-controlled death.”
“Euthanasia continues to be something very complicated. It may also create a situation we did not anticipate.”
“I would say to countries who are considering legalising euthanasia to look at the situation in the Netherlands. Ask yourselves whether this is a situation you want to be in within twenty years from now.”
Jeanette’s story
Jeanette Croonen has first hand experience of these issues.
She lost her daughter Monique to suicide as she couldn’t get euthanasia treatment, going on to co-found the Dutch Foundation for Psychiatry.
She says in a powerful interview to City News, “My daughter always said I want to smash my head against the wall so that I don’t feel the pain in my head.”
“I think somebody who is mentally ill suffers as much as somebody who is physically ill. It’s even worse, it can be more suffering.”
“It’s very serious the pain you get when you are mentally ill. When you don’t get euthanasia in my opinion people kill themselves anyway.”
A psychiatrist’s perspective
Johan Huisman also works for the Dutch Foundation for Psychiatry. He is a psychiatrist.
Huisman was one of the first to refer someone for euthanasia in the Netherlands for mental health reasons.
He says, “Often there is much discussion concerning a slippery slope regarding euthanasia and assisted suicide.”
“Other countries like the UK can learn about the twenty years experience our country has had with euthanasia.”
“As a psychiatrist you have to differentiate individuals who have an impulsive wish to die and those who want to die because they are experiencing unbearable suffering.”
“I don’t think the Netherlands is going down a slippery slope.”
What about the future?
But Professor Theo Boer has concerns. He is fearful about the future direction the euthanasia debate is taking in the Netherlands.
“We can state without any doubt that there is a slippery slope.”
“One thing that illustrates this slippery slope is the introduction of the completed life law by our former Minister of Health.”
“This would enable any citizen over the age of seventy to have euthanasia or assisted suicide.”
The current UK debate is very different. It is still illegal to have euthanasia treatment even if diagnosed with a terminal illness.
This follows the rejection of the Assisted Dying Bill in 2016 which if passed would have legalised euthanasia treatment for terminally ill adults.
Tune in to City Breakfast for more on this investigation.
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