Mark
Langedijk, who also suffered from depression and anxiety, was found
eligible for a controversial application of the euthanasia laws of the
country.
Langedijk
was euthanized by his general physician in his home on July 14 of this
year. His brother, Marcel, recently wrote about Mark’s decision to die
in an article published in the Dutch magazine “Linda.”
Marcel
wrote that Mark had a “happy childhood” and loving parents, but
developed an addiction to alcohol eight years ago. Since then, he has
been in and out of rehabilitation 21 different times.
Although his parents had been hopeful for a recovery, Mark declared that he wanted to end his life.
His
application for euthanasia was approved by a doctor from the Support
and Consultation on Euthanasia in the Netherlands. A 2000 law permits
euthanasia in the country for people who are experiencing “unbearable
suffering” that is considered incurable.
The
extension of euthanasia to Mark was met with sharp criticism from many
who said that he should have been offered treatment and support for his
depression and anxiety, rather than suicide.
Fiona Bruce, a Conservative British MP, told the Daily Mail
that Landedijk's death was "deeply concerning and yet another reason
why assisted suicide and euthanasia must never be introduced into the
UK".
“What
someone suffering from alcoholism needs is support and treatment to get
better from their addiction – which can be provided – not to be
euthanized," she said.
“It
is once again a troubling sign of how legalised euthanasia undermines
in other countries the treatment and help the most vulnerable should
receive.”
Robert
Flello, a Labour MP and a Catholic, said: “Yet again Holland
demonstrates it is a dangerous place to have any physical or mental
illness, to be struggling with any life challenges, or just to differ
from what they might call normal.”
“The state-authorised killing of their citizens is out of control and is, quite frankly, terrifying.”
This
case is not the first time the expansive assisted suicide and
euthanasia laws of the Netherlands have come under fire. Earlier this
year, many critics protested when a young woman in her 20s, who was suffering from PTSD and depression following sexual abuse, was euthanized.
Dr. Greg Bottaro, a clinical psychologist with the CatholicPsych Institute, told CNA at the time that the case sent a “devastating” message to other people struggling with mental illness.
“...by
putting this out there in this public mindset, it calls into question
even more the people who are in despair and it gives them greater reason
to believe that it's worth giving up,” he said.
In May of this year, the Dutch government yet again came under fire when the health and justice ministers announced their intent to extend euthanasia
to people who “have a well-considered opinion that their life is
complete, must, under strict and careful criteria, be allowed to finish
that life in a manner dignified for them.”
The
option would be limited to “the elderly,” though the briefing did not
define an age limit. The “completed life” extension is expected to go
into effect in the Netherlands by the end of 2017.
The
push for legal euthanasia and assisted suicide has increased in Western
countries in the past few years. In June of this year, Canada legalized
physician-assisted suicide, as did the states of California and
Colorado, joining the states of Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont.
Also in June of this year, Pope Francis denounced physician-assisted suicide
as part of a “throwaway culture” that offers a “false compassion” and
treats a human person as a problem. Addressing medical professionals
from Spain and Latin America at the Vatican, the Pope criticized “those
who hide behind an alleged compassion to justify and approve the death
of a patient.”