by Cassy Cooke, Live Action
A teenager diagnosed with autism has been euthanized in the Netherlands, and experts are warning of similar dangers in other countries.
Key Takeaways:
- A Dutch teenager between the ages of 16 and 18 was euthanized less than five years after being diagnosed with autism.
- He described his life as joyless and remained in bed all day, but his doctor still approved the euthanasia. His mental health difficulties appeared to stem from many of his struggles related to autism.
- Euthanasia for psychiatric reasons has drastically increased in the Netherlands since it was legalized.
- One psychiatrist pointed to the case as a “wake-up call” for Canada, where euthanasia laws are even more lax.
The Details:
Writing for the National Post, Sharon Kirkey reported on the case, which was outlined in the Regional Euthanasia Committees’ (RTE) most recent annual report. In the summation, the teenager’s name and age were not given; he was listed only as a boy between the ages of 16 and 18.
He was described as having been diagnosed with autism four-and-a-half years before his death; additionally, he was described as struggling with anxiety, mood disorders, and depression, including suicidal ideation. Just two years before his euthanasia, he had attempted suicide.
His life was described in bleak terms:
Read also: When Mentally Ill Teenagers Ask to Be Put to Death by Charles Lane, The Atlantic