However, a child over the age of sixteen only needs to obtain the cooperation of a doctor. Some of the other guidelines set by the Dutch Parliament are as follows; the doctor must be convinced that the patient's request is voluntary and well considered. The doctor must also be convinced that the patient is facing an unbearable amount of pain. The patient must be clear and coherent and be able to understand what he or she is requesting. The final decision to die must be the patient's own. The physician must consult at least one other doctor who had previously examined the patient. The physician must end the patient's life in a medically appropriate manner. Finally, the death must be reported and recorded as euthanasia or an assisted suicide. The Dutch have taken a lot of criticism for allowing this procedure to happen day after day from religious and political groups all around the world (Simmons 1).
It is important to differentiate between the vague terms concerning euthanasia. Passive euthanasia is hastening the death of a person by altering some form of support and letting nature take its course. This includes removing someone from life support with or without their permission. This also includes depriving a patient of food or drink and letting them starve to death. In addition, passive euthanasia is when medications and procedures are purposely stopped. When a doctor or nurse does not perform CPR, even when a DNR (do not resuscitate) order is not signed, and allows the patient to die is considered passive euthanasia as well. Also included in passive euthanasia, some doctors will give patients an extremely large dose of morphine to ease their pain, often times resulting in death rather than comforting the patient, which was intended. I will focus mostly on active euthanasia. This involves causing the death of a person through a direct action, in response to a request from that person.
