Hi world! A message from The Netherlands about #euthanasia. It seems to bother many that this is available here. And I really don’t care about your feelings, your religion, the pulp you read about the subject and anything nasty you have to say. I do feel the need to explain (as best as I can, not being a healthcare professional myself). Be warned, if you react in a demeaning and/or disrespectful way you will be blocked. In the Netherlands #euthanasia is allowed under strict circumstances. This is if, and only if, a person is suffering unbearably and no viable treatment options can help relieve this suffering. This suffering can be caused by physical or psychological illness. #Euthanasia isn’t something that is done easily. It’s not seen as a right. In fact, it is illegal unless certain criteria are met. A patient may request #euthanasia, but a doctor can always decline. Doctors are not obligated to carry out the request (even if all criteria are met). There are specialised physicians who can help a patient with their request should their own doctor decline. A request for #euthanasia is always screened by multiple independent doctors. There are six screening criteria in total, according to our #euthanasialaw. The doctors whom are involved in this request need to make sure these criteria are met and be able to prove this for later reference. This is important because as I said before, #euthanasia is illegal if these criteria are not met .The doctors involved are liable if it is found that the law was broken. If and only if all criteria are met, #euthanasia is possible (if not, it’s a no). How this is done is also highly regulated and the patient can always back out. Even the minute before. The patient is in full control. And like I said before, if a doctor is not comfortable with the idea, they can decline the #euthanasia and defer to another physician. So yes, #euthanasia is possible here albeit under strict circumstances. I am glad that this dignified way of dying is possible in The Netherlands. Why should people need to suffer unbearably if we know they won’t get better (possibly even worse)? I get that the subject may sound scary and that wanting to die is not something that we understand easily. But the BS that is going around at the moment about all of this is really harmful. You don’t have to understand someone’s choice, you yourself are free to choose otherwise should you ever be in the horrible position these patients are in. But do not judge someone‘s (request for) #euthanasia based on your own lack of understanding. Cc: @elonmusk