BMJ 2000;321:1433 ( 9 December )

News

Netherlands gives more protection to doctors in euthanasia cases

Tony Sheldon, Utrecht
The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Dutch MPs have ended decades of uncertainty for the medical profession by voting to enshrine in law the exemption from criminal prosecution for doctors performing euthanasia within strict criteria.

The Ministry of Justice maintains that the bill does not amount to the legalisation of euthanasia but to "decriminalisation in certain circumstances." If the bill is approved by the senate then the Netherlands will become the first country in the world to legislate on mercy killing.

A doctor currently performing euthanasia must first report what remains a criminal act to regional review committees of doctors and lawyers. These committees advise the public prosecution service, which only then drops the case if the doctor is judged to have followed the specific criteria established through case law.

The new bill allows doctors' actions "not to be treated as a criminal offence" if the criteria are followed. The regional committees will now be able . . . [Full text of this article]
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