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DUTCH COURT: ILLEGAL EUTHANASIA SO MINOR IT DESERVES NO PUNISHMENT

AMSTERDAM, December 7, 2001 (LSN.ca) - The laws governing euthanasia in Holland have been shown to be a sham, as a Dutch doctor who was convicted of illegally euthanizing a healthy patient was not given a prison sentence or even a fine. The Dutch appeals court ruled Thursday that Dr. Phillip Sutorius failed to act within the legal guidelines set for euthanasia in the Netherlands when in 1998 he gave a poisonous cocktail to 86-year-old Senator Edward Brongersma.

The euthanasia guidelines that became law in the Netherlands in April states patients must be suffering unbearably with no hope of recovery in order for doctors to legally practice euthanasia. Brongersma was physically and mentally healthy but was "tired of living." The court said his offence was "so minor that any form of punishment would be inappropriate." The Dutch government said it was pleased with the ruling.

See coverage by Ananova and in the International Herald Trubune:
http://www.ananova.com/yournews/story/sm_468016.html
http://www.iht.com/articles/41167.html

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