from CARE
The Netherlands recorded a sharp rise in euthanasia cases last year, prompting growing concern from medical authorities and ethicists alike.
According to new figures published by the country’s regional euthanasia review committees (RTE), cases increased by 10% in 2024.
The figures show that a total of 9,958 people died by euthanasia, up from 9,068 in 2023.
This is the highest number recorded since the practice was legalised in 2002, meaning euthanasia now accounts for 5.3% of all deaths in the country.
Euthanasia laws in the Netherlands are among the most liberal in the world. Under Dutch law, physicians may end a patient’s life if the individual is deemed to be “suffering unbearably… with no prospect of improvement,” which includes conditions such as mental illness. There is no requirement for the individual to be close to death.
While most recent cases last year involved people with terminal illnesses such as cancer, a growing number involved patients with psychiatric conditions, dementia, or age-related health decline.