Organization tests if suicide drug 'drug X' can be legally distributed in the Netherlands

Coöperatie Laatste Wil (CLW), an organization that advocates for giving adults more freedom to decide when and how to end their lives, is going to form a committee that will focus on all possible questions or problems that exist within the organization. There will also be a working group that will investigate whether it is possible to legally distribute the suicide drug known as Drug X or Middel X in the Netherlands. This was decided on Saturday in a general members meeting, chairman Rob van Doorn announced.

Two weeks ago, the board received a letter from a member who expressed his concerns about the side effects of the drug, such as uncontrolled movements. At that time, CLW announced it would tighten information about possible side effects and make it available to non-members. In addition, the co-op no longer says the drug leads to a “humane” death, but a “human” death. "There are side effects. That is no secret, we should not have a hard time with that," says Van Doorn.

During the meeting, a motion against the board was discussed because a number of members believed "that the board has done too little in the past period." However, the board can stay, Van Doorn says, but a committee will be set up to map out possible problems in the organization.

The purchase and possession of the suicide drug is not punishable by law. But it is if the drug is sold and someone dies from it. In that case, it can be considered assisted suicide.

To move forward and no longer have to fear legal consequences for assisted suicide, CLW is lobbying politicians to amend the legislation. "We have made contact with the spokespersons of all the factions in the Tweede Kamer and have been talking to them repeatedly to make our story clear and to clear up misunderstandings. We also shared our story with the various informants several times during the formation of the Cabinet," it says on the CLW website.

Nevertheless, the lobbying for selling the suicide drug has not yet been successful as the legislation on assisted suicide has remained unchanged, NPO Radio1 reports.