Legislation on euthanasia: recent developments in The Netherlands.

After the slippery slope: Dutch experiences on regulating active euthanasia.

"When a country legalizes active euthanasia, it puts itself on a slippery slope from where it may well go further downward." If true, this is a forceful argument in the battle of those who try to prevent euthanasia from becoming legal. The force of any slippery slope argument, however, is by definition limited by its reference to future developments which cannot empirically be sustained. Experi...

Open regulation and practice in assisted dying.

The Netherlands, Oregon and Switzerland are the only areas in the world where assistance in dying has legally been practised in recent years. This article provides a detailed comparison of the history of the origins, legislation, monitoring systems and the extent of assistance in dying in these three places. It shows that the actual practice in Switzerland which, unlike Oregon, also allows assi...

Philosophical Foundations of Physician-Assisted Death and Euthanasia Legislation in Oregon and the Netherlands: A Comparative Analysis

A Dutch perspective: the limits of lawful euthanasia.

Dutch author Ubaldus de Vries reviews the current state of the euthanasia law in the Netherlands. The legislation, enacted in 2001, creates a medical exception that allows for euthanasia in cases where patients experience "hopeless and unbearable suffering." A brief history of the Dutch approach to euthanasia is set forth, case law is reviewed, and the unique role of the doctor is examined in s...

I-17: Recent Developments in Animal Welfare Sciencee

The methodology for the scientific assessment of animal welfare has developed rapidly in recent years and has become a major scientific discipline. The concepts of welfare, need, stress, health, pain, emotion and feeling are now clarified. In teaching, legislation and practical work referring to animal welfare, a clear definition that can be related to other concepts is needed. The welfare of a...