The case of a 29-year-old woman killed by euthanasia in the Netherlands in February led politicians to speak out against changing the UK law.
Aurelia Brouwers was killed by a lethal injection after arguing that she was ‘entitled to a dignified death’ because of her ‘rotten life’. Brouwers had depression and a borderline personality disorder.
Horrified
Lord Carlile of Berriew of campaign group ‘Living and Dying Well’ said he was horrified at the death. ‘This is a case which illustrates the grave dangers presented by euthanasia and assisted dying’, he said.
Fiona Bruce MP, noting that one in four people experience mental health problems at some point in their lives said: ‘What is needed, as it was for this young woman, is treatment not termination. The tragedy of her situation shows why it would be so dangerous for us in this country to heed the voices of those calling for euthanasia to be legalised here.’ A Dutch euthanasia regulator recently quit her job in protest at the killings of patients with dementia. Berna van Baarsen said she could not support this ‘major shift’ in the euthanasia law. Last year, a Dutch doctor escaped punishment after euthanising a dementia sufferer who, although having previously expressed a desire for euthanasia, changed her mind and repeatedly requested to live several times in the days before she was given a lethal injection.
