Holland’s only euthanasia clinic sees 22 per cent jump in number of people wanting to end their lives

• The Hague-based Euthanasia Expertise Centre had requests from 3,122 in 2019
• The acceleration in requests caused alarm and was ‘far more’ than expected
• Holland is one of a handful of countries where euthanasia is legal and by law 

Euthanasia requests surged by 22 per cent last year at the Netherlands’ only assisted dying clinic, which revealed the number of people wanting to end their lives was ‘far more than expected’.  

The Hague-based Euthanasia Expertise Centre said its 3,122 requests were much higher than 2018.

The Netherlands is one of a handful of countries where euthanasia is legal and by law all Dutch people older than 12 are entitled to ask for it – but they first have to meet strict criteria.

Steven Pleiter, manager of the centre formerly known as the End of Life Clinic, said: ‘Every working day there are 13 people who come to us and say ‘I cannot go on any longer’. There is a great need.’

Steven Pleiter, manager of the Euthanasia Expertise Centre in the Hague, said that requests to his clinic had jumped by 22 per cent last year

He said the number of requests remained stable in 2017 and 2018, but then accelerated last year, without suggesting a reason for the increase.

Mr Pleiter said last year some 900 requests were carried out at the clinic, which is crying out for staff.

He said: ‘The numbers have a heavy impact on the organization. At the moment, we have vacancies across the board – doctors, psychiatrists and nurses.’. 

But he conceded the jump in euthanasia demands rang alarm bells as the clinic was battling to deal with the increase.

Just over 6,000 assisted deaths were carried out across the Netherlands in 2018, according to official figures, with the Euthanasia Expertise Centre assisting in 727 in those.

The Hague-based Euthanasia Expertise Centre (pictured) said its 3,122 requests were much higher than 2018

The Netherlands was the first country to legalise euthanasia in 2002. It can only be carried out under strict conditions set down in Dutch law.

Children up to 16 need the permission of their parents and guardians, while parents must be involved in the process for children aged 16 and 17. 

From 18, any Dutch citizen may ask for assisted death.

In all cases, the patient must have ‘unbearable and endless suffering’ and must have requested to die ‘earnestly and with full conviction’.

A Dutch court last year acquitted a doctor who euthanised a woman with severe dementia in a landmark case. 

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