Little change in Dutch euthanasia post-legality
AP report:
The frequency of doctor-assisted euthanasia in the Netherlands has changed little since the longstanding practice was legalized in 2002, according to a new study.
A summary published Wednesday on The Lancet magazine’s website said that “in 2010, of all deaths in the Netherlands, 2.8 percent were the result of euthanasia. This is higher than the 1.7 percent in 2005, but comparable with (levels seen) in 2001 and 1995.”
The Netherlands was the first country to nationally legalize euthanasia, so these numbers are the first we’ve ever had for this kind of thing.