Voluntary Euthanasia and the Risks of Abuse: can we Learn Anything From The Netherlands?

The author investigates the issue of abuse in the debate over volunatry active euthanasia. She focuses on two central questions regarding the legalization of aid-in-dying: 1) Will there be abuse, & if so, precisely what kind?; 2) Can abuse of this sort be prevented? In exploring these questions, she considers the possible effects of legalizing voluntary, active, physician-performed euthanasia & physician-assisted suicide, in cases where help is requested by competent, terminally ill patients with less than 6 months to live. (12 refs)