Dutch legalise euthanasia

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- The Netherlands has become the first country in the world to legalise euthanasia.

As the senate voted 46-28, with one member absent, to endorse the legislation, an estimated 10,000 people protested outside, many singing hymns.

The bill allows doctors to kill patients with terminal diseases who are suffering "unbearably" if they request it.

It will now take at least two weeks for the bill to become law while a number of formalities --including Queen Beatrix signing the bill -- are completed

It regulates a practice discreetly used in Dutch hospitals and homes for decades, turning guidelines adopted by parliament in 1993 into legally binding requirements.

AUDIO Tamora Langley, Voluntary Euthanasia Society: "Not a licence to kill" 47"/512kb AIFF or WAV sound Rita Marker, Intl. Task Force on Euthanasia: A "chilling" development 44/482kb AIFF or WAV sound   ALSO Dutch euthanasia law Euthanasia law reaction

These require a long doctor-patient relationship and exclude euthanasia for nonresidents.

Rita Marker, a spokesperson for the International Task force on Euthanasia, speaking to CNN, called it a "chilling" development and said it would damage doctor-patient relationships.

However Tamora Langley, of the UK Voluntary Euthanasia Society, welcomed the news and said: "This is part of a broader development in Europe allowing people to make their own informed choices."

She said the strict requirements meant it "was in no way a license to kill."

Doctors are not supposed to suggest euthanasia as an option and a patient must be aware of all other medical options and have sought a second professional opinion.

The request would have to be made voluntarily, persistently and independently while the patient is of sound mind.

Patients can however leave a written request for euthanasia, giving doctors the right to use their own discretion when patients become too physically or mentally ill to decide for themselves.

In the weeks preceding the debate, the upper house was swamped with more than 60,000 letters, most of them urging the legislators to vote against the bill.

The anti-euthanasia group "Cry for Life" gathered 25,000 signatures on a petition.

Speaking in favour of the bill when the debate began Monday, Diana de Wolff, of the Greens party, said the law "will codify a practice which has a very broad consensus, and we will even remain on the conservative side of that consensus."

But Egbert Schuurman, of Christian Union, called the bill "a historic mistake."

Being the first country to legislate euthanasia "is something to be ashamed of. Others may be proud, but we will expect that some may wonder later how could they have walked this path," he said.

The debate has been keenly watched internationally.

Germany's justice minister has criticised the Dutch legislation, and said the emphasis should remain on therapy to reduce suffering.

The Vatican also strongly denounced the bill after it was passed by the lower house last year.

Currently several countries -- Switzerland, Colombia and Belgium -- tolerate euthanasia although it has not been legalised.

In the United States, Oregon has allowed doctor-assisted suicide for the terminally ill since 1996, but its law is more restrictive than the Dutch bill.

In Australia, the Northern Territories enacted a law in 1996, but it was revoked in 1997 by the federal parliament.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

Dutch debate euthanasia law
April 9, 2001
Dutch set to legalise euthanasia
April 8, 2001
Vatican condemns Dutch euthanasia vote
November 28, 2000

Dutch Senate
Dutch Ministry of Justice
Christian Union
Cry for Life

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