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A Dutch man has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for selling suicide kits that resulted in the deaths of at least ten people. The man, identified as Alex S, provided 1,600 packages of a deadly cocktail of drugs called “Substance X” to buyers since 2018. While euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands, it can only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor in cases where an individual is experiencing unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement. It is illegal for ordinary citizens to assist in someone’s suicide.
The judges at the Den Bosch District Court described the accused as treating the lives of others lightly and undermining the practice of euthanasia in the country. The packages supplied by Alex S contained two or three capsules, which the court described as a “deadly dosage,” along with an antiemetic drug to stop nausea. The deaths caused by the cocktail of medicines were often distressing and panic-inducing, according to the relatives of the victims.
The Netherlands and neighboring Belgium became the first countries in the world to legalize euthanasia in 2002. Under Dutch law, patients must voluntarily request to die in a well-considered manner. Doctors must follow strict checks and balances, including obtaining a second independent opinion, before being allowed to carry out euthanasia.
In April, the Netherlands amended its rules to allow doctors to assist in the death of terminally ill children aged between one and 12 who suffer unbearably, and for whom palliative care brings no relief. The government stated that the end of life is the only reasonable alternative for these children’s unbearable and hopeless suffering. The law already permitted euthanasia for terminally ill babies until their first birthday and for children older than 12.
Alex S’s case has prompted an investigation into a further 12 people, five of whom have links to a pro-euthanasia lobby group called Cooperatie Laatste. The court’s decision serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the strict guidelines and safeguards surrounding euthanasia to ensure the dignity and well-being of those involved..
