November 3, 2024
Support for Tired of Life Euthanasia Soars in NL
An elective death for completed life reasons should be possible, says 71 percent of Dutch: ‘Baby boomers want to make their own choices’
Seven out of 10 Dutch people believe there should be a law that allows dying assistance for seniors who feel their life is complete.
So reports the Dutch Association for a Voluntary End of Life (NVVE) based on a survey by Motivaction.
The research firm surveyed nearly 1,400 people aged 18 to 90 last summer.
A similar survey was conducted in 2017. Back then, 64 percent were in favor.
“The awareness around the end of life is growing,” explained foundation president Fransien van ter Beek in Goedemorgen Nederland on NPO 1.
“We have incredibly good health care in the Netherlands, which is why we are getting older on average. But not everyone wants to live as long as possible.”
Fransien van ter Beek, NVVE
Baby boomers
A lot of people care more about quality than longevity, Van ter Beek believes. “Certainly the new generation of elderly people. The baby boomers. Those are used to making their own choices in life. They don’t want to be dependent on children or caregivers, but to fend for themselves.”
More and more people are coming to the conclusion that it has been nice, the president argues.
“Either because they are suffering from life. Either because they think: I’ve had a nice life, but all that awaits me is further deterioration and loss.”
Companion instead of doctor
The foundation advocates a legal regulation. “We have a beautiful euthanasia law in the Netherlands, which regulates that when you are ill you can ask the doctor if you can get help in dying. That is a great achievement of the last 20 years. But people who want to die and are not seriously ill are not helped by this law. They too should get a law.”
The foundation also sees growth in support for dying assistance by an end-of-life counselor who is not a doctor. In 2017, 28 percent thought that should be possible; now it is 38 percent.
Slightly more than half of those surveyed, 54 percent, do believe that an examination should first be conducted to determine whether the death wish is real.