Mar. 31 - While Americans struggle with hearts and minds over the many issues that have been brought to the fore during her parents' fight to save their daughter, Terri Schiavo, the Dutch are now contemplating what should be done when doctors decide it's best to kill infants, the mentally handicapped or the demented. From AP:

THE DUTCH government, first to legalize euthanasia for terminally ill people, will tackle an even thornier ethical dilemma: What to do when doctors say it's best to end the lives of infants, the mentally handicapped or the demented. The Royal Dutch Medical Association says guidelines and a panel of experts should be created to vet such cases. Doctors acting with the families' permission would not be punished for administering lethal sedatives to "people with no free will" in cases that pass review.

Under current law, euthanasia is restricted to terminal patients suffering unbearable pain with no hope of improvement and who, when they are still of sound mind, request to die.

Posted by: Debbye at 08:46 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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1 Damn Dutch. Just as bad as the Belgians.

Posted by: Blackglasses at March 31, 2005 10:42 AM (t+KkC)

2 The Dutch initially countered the resultant publicity by falsely stating that it is only done with the family's permission. But Dutch officials later admitted that, in fact, a doctor can overrule a family's decision when the family does not reach the right conclusion due to emotional involvement. It appears that the Dutch have learned little from their shameful collaboration with the Nazis.

Posted by: mikem at March 31, 2005 07:09 PM (EzNXf)

3 There's no one else on this website but me and this tool, right?

Posted by: Blackglasses at March 31, 2005 08:32 PM (t+KkC)

4 "in fact, a doctor can overrule a family's decision when the family does not reach the right conclusion due to emotional involvement" Translation: If they disagree with what Doctor Mengele wants to do. IOW, a family has no say - they are asked then ignored.

Posted by: Jay at April 01, 2005 04:24 AM (PuNh2)

5 Maybe the problem lies in the unquestioning faith we are expected to invest in experts and spec*ialists, or perhaps it's that they have have come to believe in their own infallibility. Or the issue may be even more fundamental: we are living too long, health care is too expensive, and when the state assumes the financial burden they try to find ways to cut corners, as it were.

Posted by: Debbye at April 01, 2005 08:15 AM (I0F6J)

6 With this kind of thinking,I'm not sure if my Dad and most of his peer group actually cleaned out all the baddies some 60 odd years ago.Sounds like some remnant of them stayed around to fester.

Posted by: big al at April 01, 2005 10:49 AM (SO/54)

7 I don't think going after individuals would have done any long term good, there's just a lot of things weird about the way europeans think. Maybe there's something in the water.

Posted by: Jay at April 01, 2005 02:58 PM (PuNh2)

8 Or the issue may be even more fundamental: we are living too long, health care is too expensive, and when the state assumes the financial burden they try to find ways to cut corners, as it were. I think that's closest to the truth. I mean, why even begin to ask if the retarded should be euthanised (such a harmless, pretty word) if they are not seen, first, as a burden? Does someone with Downs Syndrome feel pain? Are they in agony? Of course not. The only way this debate even BEGINS is if the society considers them to be worthless and, thus, disposable. "Euthanasia: Putting them out our misery since 2005" --new European Medical Association slogan

Posted by: Tuning Spork at April 01, 2005 10:58 PM (ZTSbg)

9 I absolutely support a right to die. I think it is just cruel to expect someone to live with untreatable pain or what they reasonably think is an undignified existence if they can clearly state their wish to die. It is the basic individual right. But when the state, or the state's experts start deciding for me or for Tuning Spork's Down Child example or (cringe) for his parents then it scares the hell out of me. I was stunned when I read what the Dutch were up to. I can only hope that this was something under the Dutch population's radar and not something that has been debated and accepted. From what I understand of the deception involved it appears that this is not a popular or well known policy. "Euthanasia: Putting them out our misery..." Sounds right on the money.

Posted by: mikem at April 02, 2005 12:30 AM (EzNXf)

10 Of course, that should read "Putting them out OF our misery". But that was understood, I think. I hate when leave words out.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at April 02, 2005 02:02 PM (xbU4Y)

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