A Dutch euthanasia clinic cautioned by authorities has experienced a massive leap in patients requesting euthanasia.

A Dutch euthanasia clinic cautioned three times by authorities in the past year has experienced a massive leap in the number of patients requesting assistance in dying.

In 2014, the Levenseindekliniek in The Hague received 1035 requests for euthanasia, up from 749 in 2013.

Of the 1035, 232 people were actually given euthanasia (up by 98 from 2013). 

The organisation believes the remarkable increase to be the result of increased publicity.

Last year they received widespread media attention after being reprimanded by the Regional Euthanasia Review Committee (RTE) for failing to refer a patient to a psychiatrist before euthanasia. The patient, a 47-year-old mother of two, was suffering from severe tinnitus.

Most of the 232 people given euthanasia by the Levenseindekliniek last year were suffering from physical conditions such as MS, ALS or effects of a stroke. Slightly less than a quarter had cancer and 20 per cent suffered from an accumulation of old age complaints.

The clinic was originally set up in 2012 with the purpose of servicing patients unable to find a doctor to euthanize them.

Euthanasia cases leap in Dutch clinic
Xavier Symons
https://www.bioedge.org/images/2008images/levens_einde_kliniek.jpg
Creative commons
euthanasia
Netherlands