Mobile death squads to kill sick and elderly in their own homes leads to surge in suicide rates in the Netherlands

Euthanasia in the Netherlands is carried out by a doctor administering a strong
sedative to put the patient in a coma, followed by a drug to stop breathing

One in 30 deaths in Holland are now from euthanasia, it has been revealed.

It comes after the Dutch government allowed mobile death squads to kill sick and elderly people in their own homes.

Official figures released yesterday, showed that euthanasia deaths soared by 13 per cent in 2012 compared to the previous year.

There were 4,188 deaths by euthanasia last year – accounting for three per cent of all deaths -  compared to 3,695 deaths by euthanasia in 2011.

It marks the sixth consecutive year that deaths by euthanasia have increased in the Netherlands.

The government has said that the reasons for the increase in euthanasia deaths cannot be determined with certainty.

Leading theories include a growing awareness and acceptance of the practice among both Dutch doctors and patients.

In March last year, however, Holland launched the world’s first mobile death squads to be dispatched in cases when family doctors refused to administer lethal drugs on ‘ethical’ grounds.  (more...)

Mobile death squads to kill sick and elderly in their own homes leads to surge in suicide rates in the Netherlands