The common euthanasia of couples in the Netherlands is increasingly appearing in public debate. Is the growing number of "duoeutanasia" a sign of times or an ethical challenge?
Euthanasia in Netherlands
Netherlandsas the first country in the world legalized euthanasia as early as 2002. The decision must be voluntary and suffering – physical or mental – unbearable and without prospects for improvement. There are also cases of double euthanasia, the so-called duoeutanasia, where the couple choose to leave together.
More and more couples decide to euthanize
- In 2023 the Netherlands was reported33 cases of double euthanasia,and in 2022 –29. For comparison, in 2019 such cases were 17, which shows a regular increase.
- It happens that a family doctor refuses to follow the procedure – then couples seek help in specialised euthanasia clinics.
- Officially, each person is subject to an independent, strict assessment by two doctors. It is necessary to exclude peer pressure and confirm compliance with legal criteria.
What is the euthanasia procedure for couples?
Key legal requirements
- Each partner must voluntarily and fully consciously submit a separate request for euthanasia.
- Doctors judge each case separately for suffering and lack of negotiations for improvement.
- It makes sure that the decision does not come from momentary pressure or emotion.
Motivations and dilemmas
Many older couples who have lived together for decades want to "go away together," including an expression of common life and love to the end. However, the medical system warns that situations where both partners suffer the same, at the same time, are very rare.
Els van Leeningen and Jan Faber
John (70 years) and Els (71 years) were married almost all their lives. They met in kindergarten and have since been inseparable. They loved to be on the move – for years they lived on boats and in a motorhome, traveling around the Netherlands. Els wasteacherin primary school, Janathlete and coach, latership operator. For years they lived together and raised a son.
JednakHealthzaczęło im coraz bardziej doskwierać: Jan, były hokeista, cierpiał nachronic back painEls struggled withDementia and major communication difficulties.
Marriage never wanted their lives to be determined by sickness, nor by the past years to be a series of suffering and dependence on others. They both made a decision about euthanasia when their family doctorrefusedThis procedure – they have applied to a mobile euthanasia clinic. In the case of couples, doctors must ensure that each partner chooses to leave completely alone and the decision is not the result of the influence of the other person.
Eventually, John and Els were approved for a fatal procedure and died togetherJune 3, 2024. They said goodbye before they died at the last dinner together.
The euthanasia of couples in the Netherlands is legal but very strictly controlled. The increase in common requests for euthanasia shows a changing social approach to death, but also raises questions about the limits of freedom and responsibility of doctors and states. Will the euthanasia of couples become one of the regular elections in liberal countries in the future – time will show.
