Former Prime Minister Dries van Acht… Age 93
Passed away at home holding hands with his wife of the same age
8,700 people will be euthanized annually in the Netherlands by 2022
Former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Acht passed away by euthanasia accompanied by his wife.
According to the Guardian on the 10th (local time), former Prime Minister Van Acht, who served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1977 to 1982, and his wife Eugenie van Acht passed away on the 5th at the age of 93.
The ‘Rights Forum Institute’, founded by former Prime Minister Van Acht during his lifetime, announced this news and said that the couple, who met while students and were married for 70 years, died holding hands at their home.
The couple’s funeral will be held privately in Nijmegen, eastern Netherlands. Nijmegen is where the couple first met as students. Former Prime Minister Van Acht always called his wife, who was the same age, ‘my girl’.
According to a statement from the institute, the couple’s health had deteriorated significantly. Former Prime Minister Van Acht reportedly never fully recovered his health after suffering a stroke at a Palestinian memorial event in 2019.
Gerard Jonckman, director of the Rights Forum, said in an interview with local media, “The couple’s illness was severe and they said they could not leave alone.” Former Prime Minister Van Acht is survived by three children.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed his condolences in a statement, saying, “Former Prime Minister Van Acht added color to a period of political party polarization with his clear beliefs and impressive speeches.”
The Dutch royal family also released a statement saying, “He took on administrative responsibilities during turbulent times and was an inspiration to people at various times.”
The Netherlands was the first country in the world to allow euthanasia in 2002. In 2022, 8,720 people chose euthanasia in the Netherlands. Among them, 58 people (29 couples) reportedly decided to undergo companion euthanasia in the Netherlands.
There are a total of six conditions for euthanasia in the Netherlands. Euthanasia is permitted only when the following criteria are met: the patient is experiencing unbearable pain, there is no hope of the patient’s condition improving, and the patient has a clear will to leave this world.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.