Nic and Trees Elderhorstknew exactly how they wanted to die.
They were both 91 years old and in declining health. Nic Elderhorst suffered a stroke in 2012 and more recently, his wife,Trees Elderhorst, wasdiagnosed with dementia, according to the Dutch newspaper,De Gelderlander.
Neither wanted to live without the other, or leave this world alone.
So the two, wholived in Didam, a town in the eastern part of the Netherlands, and had been together 65 years, shared a last word, and a kiss, then died last month hand-in-hand in a double euthanasia allowed underDutch law, according to De Gelderlander.
Dying together was their deepest wish, their daughters told the newspaper,according to an English translation.
[A terminally ill woman had one rule at her end-of-life party: No crying]
The Netherlands became the first country to legalize euthanasia in 2002, allowing physiciansto assist ailing patients in ending their lives without facing criminal prosecution.
Euthanasia, in which a physician terminates a patient'slife at his or herrequest, is legal in a few countries, including Belgium, Colombiaand Luxembourg. Physician-assisted suicide, in which a doctor prescribes lethal drugs that a patient may take to end his or her life, is permitted in a fewothers, including in certain states in the United States, according toProCon.org, a nonprofit organization that researches countries' legislation on the issue.
We are pleased that we have in the Netherlands this humane and carefully executed legislation that allows the honorable wishes of these two people whose fate was painful and hopeless,Dick Bosscher, ofthe Dutch Association for a Voluntary End ofLife (NVVE), said in a statement to The Washington Post. He said theElderhorsts belonged toNVVE, a165,000-member organization foreuthanasia and assisted suicide in the Netherlands.
,,Ze gaven elkaar een dikke kus en rustig en zelfverzekerd zijn ze hand in hand ingeslapen.Via DG Liemers
Posted by De Gelderlander onThursday, August 10, 2017
In recent years, apparent double-suicides and murder-suicides have been capturing worldwide attention amid an emotional right-to-die debate couples from Florida toParisreportedlyending their lives together.
Assisted suicide has summoned up deep religious and ethical concerns among critics.
In the United States, the subject was widely debated in 2014, when a 29-year-oldwoman who had a fatal brain tumormoved from California to Oregon, where she could legally seek medical aid to end her life. Californiahas since enacted itsEnd of Life Option Act, joining a small number of states where it is legal.
Even in the Netherlands, according to Bosscher withNVVE, theElderhorsts' case is rarein that both of them were able to meet the criteria foreuthanasia under the DutchTermination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act. Euthanasiaand physician-assisted suicide can be carried out only when the patient's request is voluntary and well thought-out, the patient is in lasting and unbearable suffering and there are no other solutions, among other things.
Researchpublished this monthin the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that euthanasia and physician-assistedsuicidesaccounted for 4.5 percent of deaths in the Netherlands in 2015, up from1.7 percent in 1990, before it was legal. The 25-year review found that most patients who received assistance had serious illnesses.
It looks like patients are now more willing to ask for euthanasia and physicians are more willing to grant it, lead author Agnes Van der Heide, of Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, told the Associated Press.
However, Bosscher said that there are more than 15,000 requests foreuthanasia each year in the Netherlands and that only about 6,000 of them are granted.
The Elderhorsts discussed their options and submitted requests for euthanasia a year-long process their daughters called an intense time, according to De Gelderlander.
The couple, who had even planned their own funerals,died July 4.
Read more:
How Brittany Maynard may change the right-to-die debate
Follow this link:
Elderly couple got 'deepest wish' to die together in rare euthanasia case - Washington Post
- Euthanasia - The New York Times - December 9th, 2016 [December 9th, 2016]
- Euthanasia | Define Euthanasia at Dictionary.com - December 12th, 2016 [December 12th, 2016]
- Taking Life: Humans, by Peter Singer - Utilitarian - December 21st, 2016 [December 21st, 2016]
- Free euthanasia Essays and Papers - 123helpme - December 21st, 2016 [December 21st, 2016]
- Half a Life (Star Trek: The Next Generation) - Wikipedia - January 20th, 2017 [January 20th, 2017]
- Euthanasia | Students for Life - January 24th, 2017 [January 24th, 2017]
- Mass euthanasia rumors prompt adoptions en masse at animal control shelter in Georgia - fox6now.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Doctor 'asked family to hold down struggling euthanasia victim ... - Catholic Herald Online - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Doctor who asked dementia patient's family to hold her down while she gave lethal injection cleared - The Independent - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- County animal shelter aggressively working to cut euthanasia rate - ABC15 Arizona - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Once euthanasia is voluntary, it will become irresistible. Just ask the ... - Catholic Herald Online (blog) - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- New Law in Taiwan Halts Euthanasia of Stray Animals - Seeker - Seeker - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Dog food recalled after discovery of euthanasia drug - Detroit Free Press - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Evanger's dog food recalled after euthanasia drug found in one batch - WHIO - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Euthanasia's goals: save money, collect organs - One News Now - OneNewsNow - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- RECALL: Canned dog food has traces of animal euthanasia drug - KUTV 2News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- US dog food recall after euthanasia drug found - BBC News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Taiwan bans euthanasia of stray animals - Yahoo - Yahoo News - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Euthanasia reform moves forward in the senate - Deseret News - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Wheeling-based Evanger's recalls dog food found to contain euthanasia drug - Chicago Tribune - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Dog food recalled after euthanasia drug found in can. One dog dead. - Washington Post - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Dog food sold in Minnesota recalled over euthanasia drug - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Imagining a future with compulsory euthanasia - MercatorNet - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Euthanasia 'Safeguards' Soon Seen as 'Hurdles' - National Review - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Dog food recalled after euthanasia drug found in it - CNN - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Bill to Ban Gas Chamber Euthanasia Moves to the Senate - Good4Utah - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Religion in the courtroom: Neil Gorsuch's faith and writings draw close attention - The Denver Post - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Dutch doctors against euthanasia for advanced dementia patients - NL Times - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Canadian study touts euthanasia's cost 'benefit' - Brnow - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Pug Dies After Eating Dog Food Contaminated With Euthanasia Drug - Huffington Post - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Patients Rights Council - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- New euthanasia debate in Spain - BioEdge - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Labour will not introduce private members bill on euthanasia - Scoop.co.nz (press release) - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- MP's personal story behind euthanasia support - Clarence Valley Daily Examiner - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Could laser therapy help dog owners avoid euthanasia? - 12news.com - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Speaker receives citizens' initiative on legalisation of euthanasia - YLE News - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Euthanasia's march Down Under - Catholic Herald Online (blog) - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Another company issues recall after euthanasia drug found in dog ... - KATU - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Medical Council against euthanasia: 'We don't want youths euthanising their grandparents' - MaltaToday - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- More dog food recalled because it may contain euthanasia drug ... - Q13 FOX - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Law students accuse Medical Council of twisting their euthanasia arguments - MaltaToday - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Hanson, Hinch launch passionate arguments for euthanasia law - Starts at 60 - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Pauline Hanson and Derryn Hinch get riled up about euthanasia - Starts at 60 - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Brigit Forsyth on euthanasia, internet dating and whether she'd consider Likely Lads revival - ChronicleLive - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- FDA confirms euthanasia agent pentobarbital in dog food | Food ... - Food Safety News - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Oregon's Euthanasia Bill Is Intentionally Ambiguous - National Review - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Conservative leaders argued drugs, euthanasia, and fiscal policy in Langley - Langley Advance - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- New German film addresses Nazi child 'euthanasia' - euronews - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- How Did a Euthanasia Drug End Up in Dog Food? - Care2.com - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- Why euthanasia slippery slopes are inevitable - National Right to Life News - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Oregon's euthanasia bill awash with 'ambiguity' - OneNewsNow - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Adoption center works to reduce euthanasia - The Dominion Post - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Police stance was to not answer questions over details of euthanasia checkpoint - Stuff.co.nz - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- WA election: Euthanasia, Safe Schools hot topics as Liberal, Labor leaders face Christian voters - ABC Online - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Lessons from indigenous wisdom in the euthanasia debate - MercatorNet - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Dying man gathers his family together for final hours before ... - 9Honey - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Quebec Moves Toward Euthanasia for Alzheimer's | National Review - National Review - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Once Euthanasia Voluntary, It'll Become Irresistible, Ask the Dutch; Real Humility; and More! - National Catholic Register (blog) - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- APA Position on Medical Euthanasia - Psychiatric Times - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Pike County animal shelter reduces euthanasia rates - WYMT News (press release) - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- BioEdge: Should Quebec's Alzheimer's patients be eligible for ... - BioEdge - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- 45 Rescued Cats and Dogs Are Facing Euthanasia But One Woman is Fighting to Build Them Shelter - One Green Planet - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Minnesota Euthanasia Advocates Introduce Legislation to Legalize ... - LifeNews.com - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Italy: tetraplegic DJ stirs up euthanasia debate by assisted suicide in Switzerland - euronews - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Euthanasia and Alzheimer's: Canada takes a step in the wrong direction - MercatorNet - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Choice is an Illusion President Margaret Dore States Hawaii ... - EconoTimes - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Evanger's expands recall because dog food may contain euthanasia drug - The Seattle Times - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Last Wishes mobile pet euthanasia service adds storefront hospice for pets - Chron.com - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- DJ's assisted suicide stirs up Italy euthanasia debate - BBC News - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- The euthanasia debate is polarised, yet shared concerns unite all sides - The Guardian - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Jagged Vision Streaming "Euthanasia" - Metal Underground - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Paralysed Italian DJ takes own life in Swiss clinic after fruitless euthanasia campaign in his native country - The Independent - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Mane Attraction hosts Beauty to the RESCUE to fight animal euthanasia - 12news.com - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Finnish parliament debates legalising euthanasia - Expatica Netherlands - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Euthanasia Advocate Changes Her Mind After Watching the Euthanasia Deception Documentary - LifeNews.com - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- In places where it's legal, how many people are ending their lives ... - EconoTimes - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- DJ's assisted suicide fuels Italy's euthanasia debate - MercatorNet - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Corgi pit bull with lopsided jaw saved from euthanasia - BBC News - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Euthanasia: What to Expect When Your Dog is Put Down - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Gentle Journey Phoenix Arizona In Home Pet Euthanasia - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]