Patients with psychiatric disorder more often euthanised

In 2013, more people with a psychiatric disorder have received euthanasia, according to minister Edith Schippers. The claim comes from a reaction Schippers offered to a Parliament question from PvdA MP Khadija Arib.

In 2013, 45 people with a psychiatric impairment were euthanised, in 2012 14 people and in 2011 13. There is a definite rise in the number of patients that were euthanised. Of the 42 reports that came through in 2013, 31 were assessed, and all of them carefully, minister Schippers said. Medical Contact (Medisch Contact) writes this on Monday on their website.

Schippers believes that the rise of euthanasia cases with psychiatric patients can be explained in the increased willingness of doctors to offer euthanasia in these cases. She also thinks that doctors know that the testing commissions have ruled that in all 27 cases from 2011 and 2012, there was careful action. Thus, she claims that the conception of doctors concerning the legal norms could have developed in that respect. Minister Schippers sees it as a logical evolution, that doctors are better prepared to decide whether, in the case of a patient who hopelessly and unbearably suffers from a psychiatric disorder and asks for assisted suicide, the vigilance requirements of the Euthanasia Law can be met.