In the Netherlands, more and more spouses are dying using duoeuthanasia.

The BBC provides statistics on duoeuthanasia (couple euthanasia) in the Netherlands, talking about the latest such case, in which the couple, Jan and Els, aged 71 and 70, decided to die at the same time. Every year more and more couples decide to die in this way.

The story of Jan, who suffered from back pain, and his wife Els, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, has generated discussion in the press and medical circles. Neither spouse was in critical condition when they decided on duoeuthanasia

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In the Netherlands, euthanasia (as well as assisted suicide) is legally permitted – however, under two important conditions: the person must ask to kill himself, voluntarily, and his suffering – physical or moral – must be recognized by the doctor as unbearable and with no prospects for improvement.

Every person who asks for help in ending his life must be examined by two doctors: the second must independently confirm the assessment made by the first.

In 2023, more than 9,000 people took their lives in the Netherlands through euthanasia, which is about 5% of the total number of deaths.

33 of the euthanasias performed were couples. Getting medical consent for such a procedure is not easy, and the situation is further complicated if one of the partners suffers from dementia, which calls into question the person’s ability to consent.