X-Message-Number: 7465
From: Peter Merel <>
Subject: Euthanasia in Holland?
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 00:44:22 +1100 (EST)

I was pleased and horrified to read Mike Darwin's latest message.
Pleased because Darwin thinks deeply and writes beautifully; horrified
at the experiences he relates. Reading Darwin is good for a cryonicist -
it's the kick in the arse we need to understand the dangers of
complacency.  I'd like to ask whether Mike or the other medical folks
think that there is much CNS damage deriving from the
starving/dehydrating kind of euthanasia, or whether this damage pales
beside what would have occurred otherwise?

Also, I recently came across some details online of the Dutch euthanasia
laws. It seems that, while there is no specific law sanctioning VE in
Holland, their law does make VE a defence against criminal prosecution
of doctors who perform VE, provided that appropriate procedures are
followed.

The problem for cryonicists, however, is that the Dutch laws are
specifically limited to application to resident Dutch citizens.  I'm
afraid that a moderate amount of surfing didn't reveal to me the
requirements for Dutch citizenship. I suspect they're too onerous to
apply to the vast majority of us, but I'm not certain - has anyone
pursued this?

Oh, and for Thomas Donaldson, I shall reply, but cryonet has been so
focused for the last week that I feel our thread would bring down the
excellent s/n. I'll pop it on when there's a lull.

Peter Merel.


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