[Right_to_die] Debating how to deal with dementia and mental illness relating to euthanasia

[World right-to-die news (nonprofit)]

Extract from RELEVANT,
(Magazine of Right to Die-NL (NVVE)
Volume 34, nr. 2, May 2008
Summaries by Corry den Ouden-Smit

Thinking together about the future of the NVVE

Rob Jonquière, CEO

As a first step for the memorandum Perspectives on dying with dignity a 
concept memorandum was written and presented to the members of the NVVE 
in the Annual Meeting of 2007. Many experts and organisations were 
consulted. In a public meeting with experts the memorandum has taken its 
final form. This was presented to the NVVE Annual Meeting 2008.

The framework of this memorandum has been made, but the individual parts 
have to be worked out, for instance the dilemmas of euthanasia in 
dementia and assisted suicide and in cases of chronic psychiatric 
suffering. And, last but not least, the ‘lastwill pill’ as a possibility 
for those who think their life is complete.

Apart from this, attention was given to the notion of dying with 
dignity. The renewed objective of the NVVE is to make clear that 
everyone has the right to make his own decision at life’s end: to be 
able to die where, when and in which way. This part of the memorandum is 
called ‘palette policy’. The palette extends from stopping with 
life-prolonging treatment, or taking a deadly dose of medicine (with or 
without help of a physician) to palliative sedation and euthanasia, and 
everything in between.

The activities will be implemented as a project. A project manager was 
appointed and four teams consisting of NVVE volunteers, committee 
members and experts have started. Plans of action have to be made and 
after that the board will set priorities. Not everything can be taken on 
at the same time in view of finances, human resources and opportunity. 
The moment to publish our findings is important. Time should be on our side.

At the NVVE Annual Meeting 2009 the Board will propose a priority list. 
We intend to publish the total memorandum in 2015.