110 mercy killings for mental disorders in Netherlands

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ASPartOfMe
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25 Feb 2016, 12:26 am

Where the prescription for autism can be death - Washington Post


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traven
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25 Feb 2016, 2:41 am

ASPartOfMe wrote:

spot the agenda!! oh you have a 'debate', lets drag in the 'facts' !



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25 Feb 2016, 4:46 am

not checking that further, probably .....accidents will happen
some care-tubes for the positive outlook

near where I lived, a carecenter, the children were quite often seen on vadrouille, in rows of wheelchairs, often very padded. Also the librairy had special educational stuff you could take and I did, for my preschoolers




BeaArthur
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25 Feb 2016, 3:16 pm

*shudder* euthanasia for humans is a very slippery slope.

Just as some people feel justified in putting down a pet because it loses control of its excretion functions, pretty soon it could be ok to kill someone because they feel hopeless and wish they were dead.

Feel hopeless and wish they were dead? cardinal symptoms of a treatable mental illness called depression!

Jack Kevorkian was no hero in my book.


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androbot01
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26 Feb 2016, 9:44 pm

BeaArthur wrote:
*shudder* euthanasia for humans is a very slippery slope.

Everything's a slippery slope, doesn't mean you disregard the issue.

Quote:
...Feel hopeless and wish they were dead? cardinal symptoms of a treatable mental illness called depression!

Depression (chronic, severe) can only be helped so much with modern treatments.

Having control of the end of one's life is a fundamental human right. No one should obstruct another when they decide to die.

I think the Netherlands are on the right track and Kevorkian was great. We need more like him.

Some lives are not worth living. Trying to claim otherwise is putting your head in the sand.



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27 Feb 2016, 7:18 am

This is the decision translated from Dutch somewhat badly by Google translate of the original document:

Verdict 2014-77, medical, psychiatric, voluntary and well-considered request wrote:

verdict 2014-77
Verdict: Carefully
Summary: In patient, a man of 30-40 years, in his youth was a
determined autistic disorder. He was neglected and abused, and from young
age he had made several suicide attempts. the treating
psychiatrist did not reply to his euthanasia and asked the doctor, colleague
psychiatrist, to take over the supervision of patient. The doctor considered patient
mentally competent regarding his request. There was still a treatment site and
An independent psychiatrist was asked for a second opinion. This
concluded that there was suffering unbearable and hopeless. The
consulted GP / SCEN physician concluded that the due diligence
were met.
VIEW
the regional euthanasia review committee for the region (...) on the reporting of
euthanasia
(...)
1. PROCEDURE
The committee of the municipal coroner received the documents referred to in Article 10
of the Burial and Cremation Act regarding the reporting of the doctor of euthanasia at
patient. The following documents had been received:
Form coroner
form doctor
report: doctor
report: consultant
Report second opinion psychiatrist
Additional information:



specialists letters
patients journal
advance directive
1Oordeel 2014-77
2. FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES
The reporting of physician and consultant and the other received data showed
with respect to:
a. Character suffering, information and alternatives
In patient, a man of 30-40 years, more than twenty years ago, autism spectrum
Disorder (Asperger syndrome) was adopted. This disorder is not curable. In his early
Youth patient was also neglected and abused. At a young age he had attempted
made suicide. Later he had several attempts. Patient was extended
medically treated and got supportive counseling.
When patient three years before the death called his former handler to euthanasia,
This had relied on the expertise of a center for autism. The treatment that
then was deployed, motivated patient worked with. When the motivation for his treatment
droped and patient resolved to kill himself, a department of a mental health institution was
support the request asked for euthanasia. The treating psychiatrist
Mental health institution did not accompany the stretch, because he felt that the patient's situation does not
was hopeless and there are treatment alternatives were available. Moreover, he had
conscientious objection with regard to the termination of life in psychiatric patients.
Approximately one and a half years for the death early the treating psychiatrist, the doctor also
psychiatrist, to take over the supervision of the euthanasia program. The doctor found the request
real patient and considered patient regarding his request competent. After consultation with
supervisor of patient at the center for autism, it was agreed with the patient that during
a year would be treated with medication, should receive appropriate psychosocial counseling,
If possible, would be included in a specific sheltered housing and directing the
treatment would relinquish via BOPZ measure. Inclusion in specific protected
housing type, however, was not easy, while the condition of the patient deteriorated so much that
about a year before the death forced hospitalization in a mental health institution necessary
was. Patient was agreed that he should adhere to certain treatment conditions
(Eg restoration of the relationship with his treating physicians and family), he wanted to cooperate
of doctors, counselors and other practitioners get his euthanasia program.
In the month before the death an independent psychiatrist, the doctor asked for a second opinion
respect to treatment of the patient. The psychiatrist came after research concluded that there
were enough treatment and counseling interventions attempted to conclude that this patient
had experienced little or no improvement in his symptoms. Also, the psychiatrist found no
there was another Axis 1 disorder which would require treatment. She found that there was
of unbearable and hopeless suffering caused by autism spectrum disorder and
concluded that euthanasia should be considered.
Healing was no longer possible. The treatment was still only palliative in nature.
The patient suffering consisted constantly and many different levels in his mind busy
with thoughts and not being able to close themselves to stimuli or thoughts lines. He found that
exhaustive. He wanted to expand his thoughts and calm. The patient suffered from the fact that he
great need was to the proximity of others, while long-term social contacts could not
persevere. This was because he misjudged interactions and tended to
unacceptable behavior. He could spontaneously and violently, sometimes extreme, respond to business. This
often led to problems. However, patient could not learn from these experiences. He was frustrated by
his "forbidden" feelings such as desire for sexual intimacy. He suffered his incessant
longing for meaningful relationships and recurring frustration in this area are
inability adequately with proximity and social contacts to go. His damaged development
and hence the low frustration tolerance and lack of basal feeling of security,
contributed to its reduced ability to learn the limitations of his illness to go.
Patient experienced his suffering as unbearable. The doctor was convinced that the suffering patient
was unbearable and hopeless prevailing medical opinion.
2Oordeel 2014-77
No patient was more acceptable options to alleviate suffering.
The documents can be deduced that the doctor and the patient have sufficient information specialists
the situation in which he found himself and his prospects.
b. Request for euthanasia
Patient had previously spoken with a former therapist and the doctor about euthanasia.
About to effective implementation two months before the death of the patient, the doctor
requested euthanasia. He then repeated his request several times.
According to the doctor, there was a voluntary and well-considered request, which was confirmed
the second opinion psychiatrist about a month before the death twice with patient
had spoken.
c. Consultation
The doctor consulted as an independent consultant physician / SCEN doctor. The consultant visited
patient about a week prior to the termination of life after he was informed by the doctor about patient
informed and access had been given in the relevant medical documentation.
The consultant gave in his report a summary of the case history and the nature of suffering
of patient.
In his report, the consultant was partly based on the interview with the patient to the conclusion that
the due care criteria had been met.
d. Performance
The doctor has performed euthanasia on demand with the resources, in the amount and on the
manner recommended by the Royal Dutch Medical Association / KNMP Directive Implementation euthanasia and assisted suicide of
August 2012.
3. REVIEW
The committee assesses retrospective action by the doctor on the basis of the due diligence
enshrined in Article 2 of the Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide. The
Commission is considering whether to prevailing medical opinion and for the
medical ethics standards on the care requirements have been met.
In view of the above facts and circumstances, the committee believes that the physician to
conviction could be that there was a voluntary and well-considered request of the patient
and unbearable suffering. The physician has sufficient information to the patient about the
situation he was in and about his prospects. The doctor is patient with the conviction
may be that the situation he was in was not a reasonable alternative. The
physician consulted at least one other, independent physician who has seen and patient
has given his written opinion on the due care criteria. The doctor has
termination of life medical care performed.
4. DECISION
The doctor has acted in accordance with the due care criteria referred to in Article 2 paragraph 1 of the Act
Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide.
3


This is the link to the case synopsis, which contains a download link to the PDF that I ran through Google Translate at the bottom. Bear in mind that it is in Dutch. If there are any members on the forum who actually live in The Netherlands, let's hear what you have to say.

That being said, voluntarily commiting to suicide is one of the most intensely personal decisions one can make, and it appears as if this person considered all of the options, and found that killing themselves was the best route. It certainly is a lot less taumaic for the family to deal with this than it is for the family to walk into dead family members' abode and have to cut them down because they decided to hang themselves, or having to deal with cleaning up the mess left behind after the family member blew their brains out with a gun.

Furthermore, to have others attempt to subvert an individuals' decision to do this, or anything else that others may not disagree with by labelling them 'Mentally Defective' and subjecting them into forced psychiatric treatment indefinately is not only demeaning and incredibly patronising, but also a great transgression onto one's liberty and person freedom.


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BeaArthur
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27 Feb 2016, 9:52 am

I still say it's wrong.


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ASPartOfMe
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27 Feb 2016, 10:01 am

If I am reading this correctly the patient was misreable because he could not be socially normal. The doctors blamed Autism and co morbids bringing little or no consideration to societal factors and failed in repeated attempts to help him IMHO in part because of the way they view autism.

If a person is intent on offing themselves nobody should put obstacles in thier way but for the doctors to assist anybody with a non terminal illness is wrong. If Autism becomes a legitimate government sanctioned reason for physician assisted suicide Wrong Planet membership would drop by 30 to 50 percent. As hopeless as it seems now with improvements in treatments and societal understanding in the future many of them could have a level of success and contentment if not happiness in the future that won't happen. If physician asssisted suicide is sanctioned for autism, other disabilities, depression etc the chances of improved treatments and societal acceptance in the near and medium term future will drop dramatically because it is harder to undo something then have it not happen in the first place and it will just be cheaper and more convenient to help the "undesirables" go away.

As a cancer patient this is a topic I might have a personal stake in sometime in the future.


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Last edited by ASPartOfMe on 27 Feb 2016, 10:15 am, edited 3 times in total.

BeaArthur
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27 Feb 2016, 10:10 am

I could hug you for saying that, ASPartOfMe. (lucky you there is some distance between us!) You articulated my sentiments much better than I could have.


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AspieUtah
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27 Feb 2016, 10:10 am

When backed into a corner, I am more a fighter than compliant. As Harlan Ellison once said, I will become the "snake hanging from your neck for the rest of your natural life" ... legally, of course! :wink:

I wouldn't want or accept euthanasia.


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27 Feb 2016, 10:28 am

Suicide and assisted suicide are not only the termination of a life - but the message or suggestion to others that this is a valid solution to unhappiness.

This is true in every single case. Unless perhaps one shoots oneself in the middle of a wilderness area, there will inevitably be others affected by what happens, at least the person who deals with the body and in most cases, family and friends. "Suicide contagion" is a well documented effect, seen for example when one student in a high school commits suicide and others follow. This can be true with adults too; in my graduate school, one student killed herself and six months later, another followed. These were people in their 30s and competent adults. I knew the first one very well, and was shocked but not surprised. The second, I don't know his private demons, but to my view he had reasons to live. And the effect of increased likelihood of suicide in a family after the first one is also a well documented phenomenon.

Do you want your death to be the event that pushes someone else, perhaps on the brink, to give up trying? I want my life and my death to send a message of hope to others, not a message of despair. I was so very impressed and inspired that Pope John Paul II kept continuing his duties despite painful and disabling Parkinson's, a living demonstration of the value of a life and its meaning for others. (And by the way, I'm not Catholic. I'm not even Christian.)


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27 Feb 2016, 10:52 am

This is very disturbing.

More comment and links to additional articles here: http://www.autismpolicyblog.com/2016/02 ... urope.html

Notable among the links from that piece is the story of Tine Nys, my bolding in this excerpt.

Quote:
With Tine, a charming woman who had not been under treatment for over fifteen years, the story was different. Once she had decided to die, she apparently “shopped around” to find willing doctors. One to perform the euthanasia, two others to confirm his judgment that all the criteria of the law had been met – including a psychiatrist. Very soon after Tine’s death, her family was to learn that the doctors had not conferred together about the patient’s state of mental health.

They also realized that Tine’s original psychiatric issues would not have justified her killing. She obtained a new diagnosis two months before her death: Tine, it said, was “autistic.” This was deemed sufficient to organize her euthanasia. Tine’s family have obtained no answer as to why no medical help was offered to the young woman following that diagnostic they all find so strange.

http://www.crossmap.com/news/belgians-s ... 4846/print

Also:
http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article ... id=2491352


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27 Feb 2016, 11:01 am

Autism isn't a mental health disorder.


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27 Feb 2016, 12:47 pm

So people use this as suicide. Not good. I think it should only be reserved for those who have a terminal illness.


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27 Feb 2016, 5:20 pm

The man who requested he be assisted in suicide by the state should have been offered help by the psychiatrist, as he was obviously in emotional pain due to his inability to navigate society like an NT.


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27 Feb 2016, 10:31 pm

People in the netherlands have gotten assisted suicide for depression and other non-terminal illnesses.
It seems like norm there.
Children can choose assisted suicide too.


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