Dutch
Labour MP Frans Timmermans has asked questions in parliament about a comment
made by Rick Santorum who is in the race to become the Republican presidential
candidate. During a meeting at a religious college, he claimed that forced
euthanasia accounts for 5 percent of all deaths in the Netherlands.
The film
was made by rightwingwatch.org from a position in the audience.
Mr
Timmermans wants to know why the Dutch embassy has not challenged the US
politician over the comment. The embassy says it does not want to interfere
with the US elections.
"According
to the New York Times the ambassador gave “no comment” on Santorum’s scandalous
accusations aimed at our country. How is that possible?", Mr Timmermans
wrote on Facebook. "It’s not right."
Rick
Santorum is a conservative Catholic running to become the Republican
presidential candidate. He is doing well in the opinion polls. During the
meeting, he said that 10 percent of deaths in the Netherlands were caused by
euthanasia. "Half of those people are euthanised involuntarily.” He goes
on to say that the elderly seek treatment abroad to avoid Dutch hospitals so that
they come out alive. He also claimed that elderly patients wear bracelets with
the text “Don’t euthanize me”. The audience can be heard gasping.
The figures
cited by the US politician are incorrect. Only two percent of deaths in the
Netherlands are attributed to euthanasia. Dutch law is very strict about
euthanasia only being carried out at the request of the patient him or herself.
The patient has to be suffering unbearably from an incurable condition. The
patient's request must also be assessed by two doctors.
The issue
has been raised in many small reports in US papers, but is hardly mentioned in
the Dutch press.
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Dutch euthanasia advocacy group supports 'mobile' teams
‘Stop backstreet abortions: change the law’
Red = don't reanimate!
(Photo: albert schweitzer ziekenhuis) |
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