In a recent poll of 200,000 people in the Netherlands, a whopping 80 percent indicated that they support assisted suicide for anyone who feels that their life is “complete.”
According to the NL Times, the Kieskompas poll found that only 10% of respondents disagreed that those who feel their life is complete should be able to end their life with professional help (assisted suicide). Another 10% stated they have no opinion.
The poll was issued in response to legislation pushed by the Democrats 66 party that would apply to those aged 75 and older.
The NL Times noted that the legislation would allow those who feel their life is “complete” to be given the option to end their life at the time of their choosing. The law would require these people to meet with an “end-of-life counselor” three times for at least six months — a stipulation that was added only after considerable pushback. The bill was submitted to Parliament in November 2023.
READ: People are being euthanized in the Netherlands… for autism
The Netherlands has long held some of the most relaxed assisted suicide laws in the world. Last year, a report revealed that autistic people and those with intellectual disabilities were being euthanized because they felt they couldn’t lead “normal” lives. The country also announced last year that it was set to start euthanizing terminally ill children if their parents approve, even if the child is “unable to consent.” Numbers released last year indicate that 8,720 people died from euthanasia in 2022, a 14% increase from 2021. Nearly a quarter of all deaths in the country are via assisted suicide.
“The statistics from the Netherlands are alarming, not only in terms of the number of lives lost to euthanasia, but also the widespread public support for relaxing the laws even further,” Right to Life UK Spokesperson Catherine Robinson said, adding, “Once euthanasia becomes permissible within a country, it appears that it does not take long for the culture to embrace and promote it.”
