Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
A doctor has recalled the moment he helped two married women died side-by-side.
Dr Bert Keizer, a dutch healthcare professional, has helped more than 100 people die by euthanasia as assisted suicide is legal in the Netherlands.
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In 2022, there were over 8,500 cases of assisted suicide after patients requested that they end their life.
The dutch government has several rules in place about euthanasia.
Its website explains: "Under Dutch law, any action intended to terminate life is in principle a criminal offence.
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"The only exemption from criminal liability is where a patient is experiencing unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement and the attending physician fulfils the statutory due care criteria."
Two people who fit this criteria were married couple Loes and Monique.
Monique, 74, had suffered with dementia, while Loes, 88, had a muscular disease.
The two were married for 50 years.
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In light of their respective illnesses, Loes and Monique requested 'couple's euthanasia' - sometimes refer to as 'duo euthanasia' - in 2019.
Speaking to AFP about Loes and Monique's final moments before being euthanized, Dr Keizer shared: "The two women lay on a bed, holding hands. They both had a drip in their arm and a doctor at their side.
"They kissed, said 'thank you' and 'I love you'. We looked at each other and said: 'Are you ready girls?'. 'Yes, let's go,' they replied.
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"We injected the medication, a barbiturate, and they fell asleep immediately."
Dr Keizer went on to describe the pair as 'superb women'.
Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dries van Agt and his wife Eugenie having recently opted for assisted suicide.
Van Agt was prime minister between 1977 and 1982, and the first leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal party.
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He and Eugenie had been married for around 70 years.
The Rights Forum (which van Agt founded in 2009) announced the news of their death on its website.
"On Monday, February 5, Dries van Agt died in his hometown of Nijmegen, together and hand in hand with his beloved wife Eugenie van Agt-Krekelberg," the statement read.
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"The funeral took place privately. Both were 93 years old.
"Van Agt is considered one of the first well-known Dutch people who dared to put the fate and rights of the Palestinians on the agenda. In that context he spoke of a mission he had accepted: 'If someone else won't do it, I will.' He stuck to that until his death."
The pair are survived by their three children: Eugenie, Caroline and Frans.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
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You can also call 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 at the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline.
Topics: Netherlands, Health, News
Niamh Shackleton