The Often Untold Truth About Dutch Euthanasia

When I read the transcript of this puff radio report from the Netherlands on the 5th anniversary of the formal legalization of euthanasia in that country (it has actually been permitted since 1973), I saw red. Dr. Herbert Hendin, has pointed out in his fine book Seduced by Death, that Dutch doctors and media are often not candid within the Netherlands about the actuality of Dutch euthanasia, being more concerned with maintaining social cohesion on the issue and not hurting the euthanasia cause. On page 112 (paperback version), for example, Hendin writes:

Virtually all of those who have played a role in advancing the cause of euthanasia on humanitarian grounds were concerned about the problems in its implementation, yet they seemed disinclined to express their doubts publicly. Rene Diekstra, for example, had written an article on assisted suicide for an English medical journal that contradicted everything he said to me…I asked if he too was motivated [like another doctor about whom Hendin writes] by political considerations in muting his criticism. He admitted he was.

But it was when I saw that one of the Dutch euthanasia doctors quoted in the report was Dr. Bert Keizer, a nursing home doctor who wrote chillingly about the experience of killing patients in Dancing With Mr. D, that I knew I had to hit the keyboard. The result is on line over at First Things, which you can read by hitting this link.