Dutch man chooses to get euthanised due to his alcohol addiction

[Blobfish]

This is but one of the reasons that I disagree with Euthanasia

Yes there are people suffering as a result of Pain or Disease, but I think that killing yourself legally
because you have an Alcohol addiction shows why legalizing Euthanasia is bad.

My other concern is that your grandchildren may want your house and fortune and decide to put you down legally.

One day you will be Old too , would you consider Euthanasia for an addiction or when would you consider it ?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/...ohol-addiction

A man in the Netherlands has been allowed to die because he could no longer carry on living as an alcoholic.

Mark Langedijk, a father of two, chose to die on July 14 at his parent's home by lethal injection administered by a doctor, The Independent reported.

An account of the ordeal written by his journalist brother said he was laughing, drinking beer and ham sandwiches with his family hours before dying.

People in the Netherlands who are in "unbearable suffering" with no prospect of improvement can choose to die under euthanasia legislation introduced in 2000.

Marcel Langedijk said his brother, who came from a happy home, found out he had an addiction eight years ago.

"I was particularly angry at Mark," he said. "At first we did what most people do; help. My parents especially have done everything humanly possible to save Mark."

Eventually, Mark told his family he wanted to die after eight years of help and 21 stints in rehab, Marcel wrote in the magazine Linda.

A doctor from the Support and Consultation on Euthanasia in the Netherlands approved his application for euthanasia.

On the day of his death, he "laughed, drank, smoked, ate ham and cheese sandwiches and soup with meatballs".


His doctor arrived at his parents' home at 3.15pm and explained the procedure, telling him to get into bed and to stay calm, Marcel wrote.

The family began crying "my parents, everyone actually, even Mark".

"We cried, told each other that we loved each other, that it would be all right, that we would care for each other, that we would see each other again, we held each other," he said.

Mark died after the doctor administered the third syringe, said Marcel.

"His face changed, lost color. My little brother was dead."

Last year, more than 5,500 people chose to end their life under Holland's euthanasia laws.

In an interview with The Independent, Marcel defended his brother's decision.

"My brother suffered from depression and anxiety and tried to 'cure' it with alcohol. He's from a normal family, he did not want this to happen. He did not take an easy way out," he told the paper.

[Super Kami Dende]

If he wanted an out and it could be provided who the fuck cares if you think its bad or not. You aren't the person that wanted it.

[Deleted]

His life, his decision.

[Rotted]

Sorry I agree with people being able to choose to end their life, but not in this situation. I can go into multiple reasons why, but thats just inviting a shit fest and none stop notification quotes flooding my inbox

[muto]

That's pretty fucked up that euthanasia is legal there. If he wanted to die he should have done it himself, not put that on someone else to do for him. And what is really depressing is his family stood by and watched, and let the doctor do it. That's some fucked up shit.

[Blobfish]

Sorry I agree with people being able to choose to end their life, but not in this situation. I can go into multiple reasons why, but thats just inviting a shit fest and none stop notification quotes flooding my inbox

I agree. I do not mind Euthanasia if you have a Terminal illness.
But killing yourself due to an addiction is not good.
He could have found better Rehab centres, gone away to a dry country..become Muslim even . Most do not drink Alcohol.

Sounded like he was relatively young too, as the Journalist author quotes "My little Brother".

What a waste.

[Halyon]

His life, his decision.

Pretty much this. Depending on the stipulations and conditions that must be met to be eligible for this, then if a person chooses to end their life because they can't cope with living, why shouldn't they? Your family shouldn't have a say. Fror the above reasons of 'forcing' a termination of a potentially unwilling life. You technically do that anyhow if someone's, say on life-support, by pulling the plug and letting them die.

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That's pretty fucked up that euthanasia is legal there. If he wanted to die he should have done it himself, not put that on someone else to do for him. And what is really depressing is his family stood by and watched, and let the doctor do it. That's some fucked up shit.

Here they were able to prepare for it, and make the best of the time they had, which is preferrable to a traumatic suicide instance, we have enough of those as it is.

[PassingBy]

People with addictions are weak.
Weak people tend to make easy and/or stupid choices.

However having government and/or doctor to do your dirty work for you is kinda weird.
Go jump from somewhere..

[Deleted]

The fact he was a father of 2 worries me. How old are his kids? That is a bad memory to saddle them with

[Deleted]

If he wanted an out and it could be provided who the fuck cares if you think its bad or not. You aren't the person that wanted it.

Im guessing the op is one of those religious types, concerned about how others lead their lives (and deaths).

[Halyon]

Would you be OK with someone suffering from depression getting euthanized? We do not let people who are not of sound mind make decisions for themselves.

If that's their own rational choice, yes. However, rational is a relative term when it comes to depression, as one tends to be a lot more...pessimistic in such a stage, but it's not impossible to be reasonably rational, it'd have to be evaluated case by case. The case in the OP as example, he had several recovery attempts, and in the end couldn't cope with it.

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The fact he was a father of 2 worries me. How old are his kids? That is a bad memory to saddle them with

Why? Kids shouldn't be sheltered from death, and this was at least planned. A sudden suicide would've been worse, as then people would be saddled with guilt that they should've tried harder, as an example.

[Metallourlante]

His life, his decision.

This.
It may be a little extreme since he didn't have uncurable stuff but in the end it was HIS life so it's HIS decision. If the country allows it, I don't see the issue here.

[Blobfish]

Im guessing the op is one of those religious types, concerned about how others lead their lives (and deaths).

No. I am not one of those Religious Types.
I believe in Jesus Christ because that is what Jesus wanted you to do. Believe in Him

As for joining a particular religion, the Bible does not state that you have to join a religion to enter the gates of Heaven

And religions are like Football teams.. Always saying they are better than their opposition..pathetic.

[Deleted]

No. I am not one of those Religious Types.
I believe in Jesus Christ because that is what Jesus wanted you to do. Believe in Him

As for joining a particular religion, the Bible does not state that you have to join a religion to enter the gates of Heaven

And religions are like Football teams.. Always saying they are better than their opposition..pathetic.

So that's a yes.

Ill make another prediction too... you're one of those religious types that cherry pick the bits they like and ignore the rest?

[GennGreymane]

someone took the internet depression memes a bit too literal.

[Sandraudiga]

Going out in a painless way and letting your family work their way through it is alot better than your family coming home and finding you after swallowing a shotgun round. He would have done it regardless. This way, while not great, is better than the alternative.

[Deleted]

Couple of responses to the OP & the article after having read the original dutch blog post:

1. The article is wrong in saying that he has suffered from alcohol addiction for 8 years: according to the post he has suffered from it his entire life but finally admitted he had problems to his family 8 years ago.

2. There really is no risk of having your grand-kids kill you legally, since only the opinion of the person requesting euthenasia is relevant, not those of his parents.

The only situation where there could POSSIBLY be involvement of relatives is in the case of someone who has become legally incompetent. However even in this case, in the Netherlands a patient wont be euthenized if the family claims he/she wanted that in case of dementia but there isnt any paperwork to back that up.

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Would you be OK with someone suffering from depression getting euthanized? We do not let people who are not of sound mind make decisions for themselves.

According to the dutch standard for euthenasia, someone has to have a ''durable, informed death wish'' as was originally described in the article, the guy went through a very long process to prove that this was indeed what he wanted & he was competent (sober) while doing it.

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No. I am not one of those Religious Types.
I believe in Jesus Christ because that is what Jesus wanted you to do. Believe in Him

As for joining a particular religion, the Bible does not state that you have to join a religion to enter the gates of Heaven

And religions are like Football teams.. Always saying they are better than their opposition..pathetic.

You know that the bible/jesus is a christian concept right?

[Self Inflicted Wounds]

YOU shouldn't have a say in what people do in their lives. I don't care how you feel about it. Obviously, laws to protect grandchildren from killing you will come with euthanasia laws.

[Independent voter]

My guess is alcohol was involved.

Sometimes you see an alchy dry up for mysterious reasons. If I were him I would've waited.

I'm not against euthanasia, if I become demented or come down with Alzheimer's in my old age I'll seek it out. I don't like the thought of watching myself become erased and becoming a burden to others.

Alcoholism? It seems like too minor an affliction to end it all.

[Mayhem]

I believe in Jesus Christ because that is what Jesus wanted you to do. Believe in Him

.. Awesome reasoning skills.