Dutch provide grist for euthanasia study The Layman Online Tuesday, August 17, 1999 In 1998, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) deferred to commissioners in the year 2001 the business of establishing a policy addressing death-decision issues. More fodder has been added to that discussion with the introduction of a controversial legislative proposal in the Netherlands that would extend euthanasia (so-called mercy-killing) to children as young as 12 years old. "In the case of 12 to 15 year olds the consent of the parents or guardian is required, but in the event of refusal... a minor's request may nevertheless be met if the doctor is convinced this would prevent serious detriment to the patient," the Justice and Health ministries said in its legislative proposal. The Netherlands' widespread use of euthanasia was cited frequently by opponents of a document titled "Euthanasia Study Materials" which was debated by the 1998 General Assembly. Although a committee endorsed the document, the General Assembly adopted a minority report rejecting it. That document did not take an editorial position on the issue of choosing to have oneself put to death. However, it included numerous questions designed to evoke agreement with the euthanasia movement. It even asked, "Is there a difference between putting down a pet and human euthanasia?" and suggested that Jesus may have committed suicide. During debate before the 1998 General Assembly, several speakers pointed out that the Netherlands' liberal public policy of euthanasia was then allowing thousands of self-directed deaths and that they expected the situation to become worse because aging people had limited access to state-governed medical care. But none of the opponents of the euthanasia report dared to predict the kind of legislation that was drafted recently in the Netherlands. A news release from the Netherlands said, "Political opposition was expected from the main opposition Christian Democrats and small Calvinist parties. But provided the three government parties unite behind the bill, its passage through parliament should be smooth."

Related articles Assembly delays policy on ‘self-determined death’ July/Aug 98 Analysis: In Life and Death We Belong to God by By Leonard Caccamo, M.D. - Sept/Oct 98 A Different Death: Euthanasia and the Christian Tradition (book review) - Nov/Dec 98

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