Euthanasia in The Netherlands

According to a Dutch government-sponsored study (the Remmelink Report), out of some 9,000 requests for voluntary euthanasia made to doctors, only 2,300 cases were carried out. Based on this data, the Dutch Cabinet presented a law--which was barely passed (37 votes for vs 34 against)--providing doctors with a checklist of conditions that must be met to avoid prosecution for euthanasia, thus ending a year-long call for adequate legislation. Below, C.E. van de Bunt gives the facts behind the decision.