Dries van Agt, a former Dutch prime minister and devout Catholic, passed away through euthanasia alongside his wife Eugenie, both aged 93. 

Their joint euthanasia is part of a growing phenomenon in the Netherlands known as “duo euthanasia”. 

This trend, while rare, has seen a steady increase since 2020, with 26 couples granted euthanasia that year, rising to 58 in 2022.

Van Agt, who led the Christian Democratic Appeal party and founded the pro-Palestinian group Rights Forum, passed away hand in hand with his wife, after both were in poor health. 

The decision reflects their shared autonomy and long-standing commitment to each other.

Elke Swart, a spokesperson for the Expertisecentrum Euthanasie, highlighted that while interest in duo euthanasia is growing, it remains uncommon due to the stringent individual requirements and the rarity of couples experiencing unbearable suffering simultaneously.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide have been legal in the Netherlands since 2002 for specific conditions, with a second specialist’s confirmation required.

#MaltaDaily