A majority of people killed by euthanasia in the Netherlands for so-called psychiatric reasons had complained of loneliness, a new study has found.
Researchers in the U.S. found that loneliness, or “social isolation”, was a key motivation behind the euthanasia requests of 37 of 66 cases reviewed, a figure representing 56 per cent of the total.
The study by the National Institute of Health also revealed that the Netherlands was operating a de facto policy of euthanasia on demand, with patients “shopping” for doctors willing to give them a lethal injection for the most trivial of reasons.
“Liberal interpretation of the law has corresponded with a soaring incremental increase in the number of euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands. In 2014, there were 5,306 recorded deaths by euthanasia. Observers expect the 2015 figure to pass the 6,000 mark.”
My long division makes that 14.5 people euthanized daily in the Netherlands in 2014, with an anticipated 16.4 daily in 2015.
“….with patients “shopping†for doctors willing to give them a lethal injection for the most trivial of reasons.”
And just how is this a surprise? I expect that in the fullness of time the state will simply decide to kill people it determines unfit to live.