Euthanasia in the Netherlands American Observations

The Maastricht meeting was intended to educate those of us from, Canada, and the United States about the "Dutch model" of legally active euthanasia. Although we certainly gained information, it became apparent that the questions voiced by non-Dutch participants not the result of our misunderstanding practices in the Netherlands but due to philosophical differences and to concerns about further changes in practices. Furthermore, the meeting also revealed that the Dutch hold varying views about the contours of their model, its successes its weaknesses, and whether it would be desirable for other countries to their lead....The arguments on both sides did not lack for lucidity, they were largely speculative about the good and bad consequences of that are still inadequately evaluated. And even when the specific are known about the direct consequences of the policies, it may remain to trace the indirect consequences of one policy or another on the-patient relationship, on the sense of personal freedom and security society at large, and on the respect for persons that one policy or another in people generally and in health care professionals in.