A goodbye “hand in hand”: euthanasia as a couple

Imane Rachidi |

The Hague (EFE).- Couples who decide to end their lives with euthanasia scheduled for the same day and time represent a small percentage of total assisted deaths in the Netherlands, but their number is increasing and Between them there are dozens of deaths a year. Former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt and his wife, both 93.

Van Agt was with his wife Eugenie for 70 years, whom he met while students in Nijmegen in the east of the Netherlands, and since then they were inseparable: she accompanied him during his tenure as Justice Minister and advised him. (1971–1977), Foreign Minister (1982) and as Prime Minister in three cabinets between 1977 and 1982.

He also accompanied her in 2009 when she founded The Rights Forum, a knowledge center on Israel and Palestine, where she tried to materialize her quest for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, for which she traveled to the West. Devoted his energy since. Bank in 1999. They traveled around the world together for work, and they were inseparable for decades, which is why they were also clear that they didn’t want to live without each other.

On 5 February, both at the age of 93, due to deteriorating health, and surrounded by their loved ones, died “hand in hand” after undergoing euthanasia together, a common practice in the Netherlands, said President Francien van ter. According to Bec. Dutch Association for Voluntary End of Life (NVVE).

two individual processes

In 2022, the last year for which official figures are available, approximately 9,000 euthanasia took place in the Netherlands, including 29 couples who underwent the assisted death procedure, a total of 58 people. There were 16 pairs in 2021, and another 13 in 2020. According to data from regional euthanasia review committees (RTEs), the percentage is small, but growing.

“It doesn’t happen often, because it’s not an easy path,” Van ter Beek told NOS Network.

Doctors study a couple’s requests as two individual processes and are subject to the conditions of any other case.

Euthanasia has been legal in the Netherlands since 2002, but it is authorized under very strict conditions and can only be performed under medical supervision, so any other form of assisted suicide is considered illegal.

The requirements require that the decision be “voluntary and well-intentioned”, in the face of “unbearable and desperate suffering”, and that “there is no reasonable alternative.” In addition, the doctor must “report on the situation and prospects” and request a second opinion from “an independent doctor”, so that the procedure is “medically careful” with the right medications and appropriate steps.

Two different doctors do a separate assessment, after which another independent doctor double-checks it, and all doctors must ensure that all points have been met before authorizing euthanasia. In case of couples, it should also be verified that there is no “undue pressure” from one of the parties.

“They couldn’t live without each other.”

Van Agt suffered a brain hemorrhage in 2019 and his health has deteriorated since then. “That’s when he said that euthanasia was an option if life and suffering became unbearable (…) His health had become increasingly fragile and he wanted to focus his attention on his wife, his children and his grandchildren. Were,” said Gerard. Jonkman, director of the Rights Forum, confirmed that Eugenie’s health had also deteriorated rapidly in recent years.

The former Prime Minister entered politics in the late 1960s and as of 2021 was a member of the CDA Christian Democratic Party.

He had conservative Catholic beliefs, but his views became more progressive over the years, so much so that he was surprised by euthanasia and dying with the love of his life. “They couldn’t live without each other,” Jonkman said.

“We know from experience that people think it’s a good idea. Especially after a lifetime of people merging with each other. Van ter Beek concludes, “This way you will no longer have to experience the death of the other person, and you will save yourself the pain.” However, children and grandchildren suffer a double loss when their parents or grandparents die simultaneously.

At the moment, “duo-euthanasia” remains an exception and represents less than 1% of total cases in the Netherlands.