Nearly 5,800 people starve themselves to death in Netherlands per year: study

An estimated 5,800 people per year stopped eating and drinking between 2019 and 2023 because they wanted to end their lives, while around 2,000 a year used fatal doses of medication or sleeping pills. These findings come from a new study conducted by Erasmus MC and covered Friday morning by de Volkskrant. The study examines people seeking euthanasia who carry it out without a doctor’s involvement.

People often decide to take matters into their own hands after their euthanasia request is denied, Erasmus MC writes. In certain situations, medical professionals still provide support, such as administering sleeping pills or morphine to those who choose to stop eating and drinking.

Most people who decide to stop eating and drinking are older adults, with two-thirds aged over 80. They often suffered from physical ailments or disabilities, and in certain instances were living with a condition that limited their life expectancy.

People aged 30 to 70 are more likely to use medication to end their lives. Many faced psychological difficulties, and some had made earlier suicide attempts. Erasmus MC notes that in both groups, over 90 percent reported unbearable suffering and had lost hope that their situation could get better. The most commonly mentioned motive was a sense of being done with life.

The decision to proceed with ending one’s life was usually not impulsive, Erasmus MC observes. “It followed a prolonged period of suffering.” Those who decided to stop eating and drinking typically planned the process in advance, coordinating with medical professionals and family members. In 50 percent of cases, death occurred within 10 days after stopping food and fluids.

The involvement of trusted individuals differed from case to case. At times, they remained at arm’s length out of fear of possible legal consequences. For those who chose to use medication, confidants frequently worried about isolation and a history of earlier suicide attempts.

Using a representative survey of almost 35,000 participants, Erasmus MC identified 104 instances of individuals who stopped eating and drinking and 39 cases involving the use of medication. These findings allowed the researchers to estimate the annual number of deaths in the 2019–2023 period.