Dutch Euthanasia Case: Doctor Acted in Interest of Patient, Court Rules

September 12, 2019

(BBC) – A doctor accused of failing to verify consent before performing euthanasia on a dementia patient has been cleared of any wrongdoing by a Dutch court. The 74-year-old patient, who died in 2016, had expressed a wish to be euthanised but also indicated that she wanted to determine the right time. Judges said the doctor acted lawfully as not carrying out the process would have undermined the patient’s wish. It is the first such case since the country legalised euthanasia in 2002.