{"id":3995,"date":"2018-12-07T16:25:30","date_gmt":"2018-12-07T16:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/?p=3995"},"modified":"2020-03-16T20:50:52","modified_gmt":"2020-03-16T20:50:52","slug":"webcast-archive-belgian-doctors-prosecuted-after-2010-euthanasia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/2018\/12\/webcast-archive-belgian-doctors-prosecuted-after-2010-euthanasia\/","title":{"rendered":"Webcast archive: Belgian doctors prosecuted after 2010 euthanasia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1180\" height=\"664\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d0quwlfBbr8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In this episode of\u00a0<em>Euthanasia &amp; Disability<\/em>, Amy Hasbrouck, Christian Debray, and Taylor Hyatt discuss:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Three Belgian doctors are prosecuted eight years after a questionable euthanasia<\/li>\n<li>UK Supreme Court rejects Noel Conway\u2019s appeal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Please note that this text is only a script and that our webcast contains additional commentary.<\/p>\n<p><strong>THREE BELGIAN DOCTORS ARE PROSECUTED EIGHT YEARS AFTER A QUESTIONABLE EUTHANASIA<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Today, we\u2019re discussing another euthanasia-related prosecution \u2013 this time in Belgium. You\u2019ll remember, on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/2018\/11\/webcast-archive-first-euthanasia-prosecution-in-the-netherlands\/\">November 16th<\/a>\u00a0we talked about the first prosecution under the Netherlands\u2019 euthanasia law. For this report we examined many articles, in three languages, which had incomplete and contradictory information.\u00a0 We\u2019ve put together the clearest account possible.<\/li>\n<li>In April of 2010, 38-year-old Tine Nys was euthanized, with the approval of two physicians and a psychiatrist.\u00a0 Though Belgium\u2019s euthanasia evaluation committee found no problems with the approval process or administration of death, Nys\u2019 sisters filed a criminal complaint, claiming there were a number of \u201cirregularities\u201d in the euthanasia process.\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.knack.be\/nieuws\/belgie\/drie-artsen-voor-hof-van-assisen-voor-niet-naleven-voorwaarden-euthanasie\/article-normal-1397185.html\">Knack magazine<\/a>\u00a0reported on November 22 that \u201cThe board of indictment ruled Thursday that there are sufficient indications that the conditions and procedures imposed by the euthanasia law have not been complied with.\u201d If the charges are upheld, the doctors could face life sentences.<\/li>\n<li>Two of the doctors associated with the Nys case may be familiar to those who follow our webcast.\n<ul>\n<li>Dr. Wim Distelmans, the head of the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ethical-perspectives.be\/viewpic.php?TABLE=EP&amp;ID=59\">Federal Control and Evaluation Committee<\/a>\u00a0and a frequent euthanasia provider (conflict of interest, much?), stated that he is surprised to be considered in a criminal matter since he only consulted on the case. As we reported in 2014, Distelmans\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-2690157\/Outrage-Dr-Death-offers-euthanasia-tours-inspiring-Auschwitz-Claims-visit-clarify-confusion-dying.html\">led a trip to Auschwitz<\/a>, \u201cas an inspiring venue for \u2026 reflecting on [end of life] issues so that we can consider and clarify confusion.\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/s\/9p2nyhw7slalxbb\/onlinediscussion140516.docx?dl=0\">The text<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vrVFtBMG9M4\">video<\/a>\u00a0of the webcast are available online.)<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Lieve Thienpont, the psychiatrist in the case, is also\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apnews.com\/4b6877fab2e849269c659a5854867a7b\">known for promoting euthanasia for psychiatric reasons<\/a>.\u00a0 In 2015 she published a paper where she described approving 48 of 100 requests for euthanasia for psychiatric reasons, whereas other psychiatrists\u2019 approval rates range from 10 to 30%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>The complaint filed by Tine\u2019s sisters claims the Nys was deemed eligible even though the doctors \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.demorgen.be\/binnenland\/zussen-getuigen-over-amateuristische-euthanasie-baxter-viel-op-tines-gezicht-b92f407b\/?referer=&amp;referer=\">never prepared a report<\/a>\u00a0together or exchanged diagnoses.&#8221; or provided any treatment for her autism.\u00a0 The complaint also alleges that the euthanasia was performed in an unprofessional manner.\n<ul>\n<li>Tine Nys applied for euthanasia in late 2009, but\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apnews.com\/4b6877fab2e849269c659a5854867a7b\">was found ineligible by her long-time psychiatrist<\/a>.\u00a0 She then consulted Dr. Thienpont, and received a diagnosis of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/249a8067af6740d2af22ed66fc9e1a90\">Asperger\u2019s Syndrome<\/a>\u00a0\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apnews.com\/4b6877fab2e849269c659a5854867a7b\">after two or three sessions<\/a>\u201d in February of 2010.\u00a0 No treatment was offered to help cope with the diagnosis or symptoms of Asperger\u2019s.\u00a0 Ms. Nys\u2019 sisters told a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vrt.be\/vrtnws\/nl\/2016\/02\/02\/twee_zussen_getuigeneuthanasievantinewasamateuristisch-1-2562643\/\">Dutch TV program<\/a>\u00a0in 2016 they believed her desire to die was related to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.demorgen.be\/binnenland\/zussen-getuigen-over-amateuristische-euthanasie-baxter-viel-op-tines-gezicht-b92f407b\/?referer=\">a recent breakup<\/a>, that caused old emotional issues to return.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Her sister Sophie reported the doctor who performed the euthanasia was\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.knack.be\/nieuws\/belgie\/drie-artsen-voor-hof-van-assisen-voor-niet-naleven-voorwaarden-euthanasie\/article-normal-1397185.html\">\u201cnonchalant\u201d<\/a>\u00a0and unprepared; arriving without an IV pole or tape to secure the IV needle.\u00a0 Family members had to hold the injection line in place, the IV bag was balanced on the back of the chair, and her parents were asked to confirm that Tine\u2019s heart had stopped using a stethoscope.\u00a0 The physician also \u201ccompared [Tine\u2019s] death to that of a pet who suffers and receives a syringe.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>During the investigation, Sophie obtained access to her sister\u2019s medical file and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apnews.com\/4b6877fab2e849269c659a5854867a7b\">found emails<\/a>\u00a0between Tine\u2019s doctors attempting to block the investigation. \u201cWe must try to stop these people,\u201d Dr. Thienpont wrote, calling the Nys family \u201cseriously dysfunctional, wounded, [and] traumatized, [with] very little empathy and respect for others.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Some articles have implied that the Asperger\u2019s diagnosis was faked either by Tine or her doctors in order to ensure her eligibility for euthanasia. Sam Crane, Legal Director and Director of Public Policy at the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, says \u201cIt&#8217;s not uncommon for women especially to be struggling with mental health concerns for many years before finally getting an autism diagnosis. We can be diagnosed with depression, anxiety disorder, or other conditions before someone finally realized we&#8217;re autistic.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Reports emphasize that this is the first time criminal charges are being pursued in a euthanasia case. However advocates such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apnews.com\/4b6877fab2e849269c659a5854867a7b\">Penny Lewis<\/a>\u00a0and researchers such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/europepmc.org\/articles\/pmc5047832\">Scott Kim<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3070710\/\">Jos\u00e9 Pereira<\/a>\u00a0have expressed concern about the effectiveness of safeguards in euthanasia of people with psychiatric disabilities.<\/li>\n<li>The story raises a lot of questions:\n<ul>\n<li>Ms. Nys was killed eight years ago; why weren\u2019t charges brought sooner? What happened between the evaluation Commission\u2019s ruling that there was no problem, and the decision to prosecute?<\/li>\n<li>Why now?\u00a0 This prosecution was announced only days after the one in the Netherlands.\u00a0 Is Belgium trying to \u201ckeep up with the Joneses\u201d by following the lead of others in an attempt to prove that authorities aren\u2019t indifferent to violations of the law?<\/li>\n<li>Is Belgium really trying to get tough on doctors who cut corners on compliance, or is there another reason to bring charges now?\u00a0 In his commentary on the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition blog, Alex Schadenberg suggests another possibility; that the prosecution in the Nys case may be less about punishing non-compliance than about\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.onenewsnow.com\/pro-life\/2018\/11\/29\/doctors-getting-away-with-murder\">establishing standards<\/a>\u00a0under which euthanasia for psychiatric conditions is deemed acceptable.<\/li>\n<li>What is the message we\u2019re sending to autistic people when autism is deemed an acceptable reason to want to die? \u00a0Sam Crane says \u201cThe suffering that&#8217;s associated with\u00a0<strong>unaddressed<\/strong>\u00a0autism is certainly not incurable. Lots of autistic people who were very depressed before their diagnosis end up feeling much better once they get an understanding of how their brain works, know what they need to thrive, and find a community. Sending the message that autistic people must face lifelong suffering because you can&#8217;t cure autism is incredibly damaging. That sort of attitude has resulted in murder of autistic children and is most likely a contributing factor to our alarmingly high suicide rate.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>One study of newly-diagnosed autistic people showed that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanpsy\/article\/PIIS2215-0366(14)70248-2\/fulltext\">66% had considered suicide<\/a>\u00a0compared to 17% of the neurotypical participants. This was attributed to employment problems or social isolation.<\/li>\n<li>Tine Nys\u2019 story is a prime example how euthanasia supporters dismiss inadequate safeguards. Problems are ignored until they can no longer be hidden. The view that death is a solution to \u201csuffering\u201d shows an ignorance of and bias against disability in the medical profession, and doctors\u2019 willingness to (wrongly) attribute any distress the person faces to their condition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>U.K. SUPREME COURT REJECTS NOEL CONWAY\u2019S APPEAL<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Noel Conway\u2019s appeal to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/uk-england-shropshire-46359845\">the UK Supreme Court<\/a>\u00a0has been rejected. Mr. Conway has been campaigning to overturn the ban on assisted suicide, contained in the Suicide Act of 1961, claiming the law violates his right to privacy under the European Convention on Human Rights. \u00a0The Supreme Court said Conway\u2019s case was unlikely to succeed, given Parliament\u2019s 2015 vote to maintain the assisted suicide ban.<\/li>\n<li>The High Court (one step below the Supreme Court) declined to hear his case\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/uk-england-shropshire-44628459\">in June<\/a>. Mr. Conway originally brought suit before the High Court\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/2017\/10\/05\/terminally-ill-man-loses-high-court-challenge-against-law-assisted\/\">in October 2017<\/a>, after the Court\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/2017\/03\/30\/man-terminally-motor-neurone-disease-loses-court-bid-change\/\">refused to remove<\/a>\u00a0the prohibition on assisted suicide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n   ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-summary\">\n<div class=\"entry-summary\">\nThis week, we&#8217;re looking at another prosecution of doctors following a woman&#8217;s euthanasia.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/2018\/12\/webcast-archive-belgian-doctors-prosecuted-after-2010-euthanasia\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Webcast archive: Belgian doctors prosecuted after 2010 euthanasia&rdquo;<\/span>&hellip;<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/2018\/12\/webcast-archive-belgian-doctors-prosecuted-after-2010-euthanasia\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Webcast archive: Belgian doctors prosecuted after 2010 euthanasia&rdquo;<\/span>&hellip;<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[92],"tags":[451,282,121,325,452,418,450,449,118,453],"class_list":["post-3995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-webcast-archive","tag-autistic-self-advocacy-network","tag-belgium","tag-euthanasia-disability","tag-euthanasia-prevention-coalition","tag-lieve-thienpont","tag-netherlands","tag-noel-conway","tag-tine-nys","tag-webcast","tag-wim-distelmans","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3995"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3995\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4765,"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3995\/revisions\/4765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}