--- title: "Dutch citizens want a different euthanasia law" description: "majority of the Dutch would like to see euthanasia legislation that gives patients themselves the final say on their euthanasia, rather than a doctor." url: "https://www.motivaction.nl/en/news/dutch-citizens-want-a-different-euthanasia-law" date: "2026-11-14T17:07:53+00:00" language: "en-GB" --- # Dutch citizens want a different euthanasia law 13 July 2023 **A majority of the Dutch population would like to see euthanasia legislation that gives patients themselves the final say on their euthanasia, rather than a doctor. Under the current euthanasia law, a doctor must determine whether there is unbearable and hopeless suffering before euthanasia can be considered. Research by Motivaction shows that the Dutch people prefer a specially trained counselor to determine through conversations with the patient whether they have a desire to die. If that is the case, then a doctor will proceed with euthanasia. This alternative euthanasia legislation was developed by end-of-life activist Wim van Dijk and supporters.** 61% of the Dutch population is in favor of the alternative euthanasia law, while 54% is positive about the existing euthanasia law. However, when given a choice between the two laws, 60% favor the alternative law and only 21% prefer the current law. Even supporters of euthanasia are six times more likely to choose the alternative law over the current law. A large group of Dutch people believes that a doctor can determine whether someone is suffering unbearably and hopelessly (60%) and that the doctor should do so when a patient requests euthanasia (57%). However, this should no longer be the decisive factor in the application of euthanasia. Only 29% believe that the doctor should have the final say. Most people agree that a doctor can have a role in euthanasia but should not have decision-making authority over its application. 50% believe that a patient should be able to decide on their own end-of-life even if they are not suffering unbearably and hopelessly. 17% disagree with this. According to the close ones of a patient, euthanasia proceeds uncomfortably in about one in ten cases (12%) and restlessly in 9% of cases. Palliative sedation, often used when euthanasia is refused, is experienced as uncomfortable by just over one in six patients (18%) and restless by 17%. The survey was conducted between May 17 and May 24, 2023, among a representative group of 1,055 Dutch citizens (n = 1,055). Share this article - [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.motivaction.nl%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fdutch-citizens-want-a-different-euthanasia-law) - [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.motivaction.nl%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fdutch-citizens-want-a-different-euthanasia-law) - [](https://t.me/share/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.motivaction.nl%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fdutch-citizens-want-a-different-euthanasia-law&text=) - [](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.motivaction.nl%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fdutch-citizens-want-a-different-euthanasia-law) --- Questions? ![André Kamphuis](https://www.motivaction.nl/images/medewerkers/Andre_1200x650.jpg)### André Kamphuis Email: [](https://www.motivaction.nl/javascript:/*%20This%20email%20address%20is%20being%20protected%20from%20spambots.*/) Functie Senior Research Consultant Telefoon +31 (0)20 589 82 66 ![](https://www.motivaction.nl/images/site-new/icons/spacer.jpg) ![](https://www.motivaction.nl/images/site-new/icons/spacer.jpg) --- More news ![](https://www.motivaction.nl/media/yootheme/cache/0e/Millennials_FA-big-0ec3370d.jpg?src=images/NieuwsIntro/Millennials_FA-big.jpg&thumbnail=1200,600,&hash=b3b7f884) #### Millennial Values 08 July 2016 [Bekijk pagina](https://www.motivaction.nl/en/news/millennial-values) ![](https://www.motivaction.nl/media/yootheme/cache/56/seniors-dementia-large-56825453.jpg?src=images/seniors-dementia-large.jpg&thumbnail=1200,600,&hash=5aafc93d) #### Groundbreaking Dutch idea changes the lives of seniors with severe dementia 02 August 2019 [Bekijk pagina](https://www.motivaction.nl/en/news/groundbreaking-dutch-idea-changes-the-lives-of-seniors-with-severe-dementia) ![](https://www.motivaction.nl/images/NieuwsIntro/Glocalities_waves.jpg) #### MNC's: riding the next wave of Globalisation 01 October 2014 [Bekijk pagina](https://www.motivaction.nl/en/news/mnc-s-riding-the-next-wave-of-globalisation) ![](https://www.motivaction.nl/images/PrideBlog-Website-Intro.png) #### Non-binary individuals are three times more likely to feel unsafe ![](https://www.motivaction.nl/media/yootheme/cache/8b/Andr%C3%A9_400x400-8bb1a7f1.png?src=images/site-new/onze-mensen/teaser-auteur400x400/Andr%C3%A9_400x400.png&thumbnail=44,44,&hash=7ca3f340) 27 July 2023 [Bekijk pagina](https://www.motivaction.nl/en/news/non-binary-individuals-are-three-times-more-likely-to-feel-unsafe) ## Schema ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.motivaction.nl/en" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "News", "item": "https://www.motivaction.nl/en/actualities/news" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dutch citizens want a different euthanasia law", "item": "https://www.motivaction.nl/en/news/dutch-citizens-want-a-different-euthanasia-law.md" } ] } ``` ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.motivaction.nl/en/news/dutch-citizens-want-a-different-euthanasia-law.md" }, "headline": "Dutch citizens want a different euthanasia law", "description": "majority of the Dutch would like to see euthanasia legislation that gives patients themselves the final say on their euthanasia, rather than a doctor.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.motivaction.nl/images/euthanasie_Website-Intro.jpg" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Motivaction Marktonderzoeksbureau", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.motivaction.nl/images/site-new/logo/motivaction-logo-structured-data.jpg" } }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "André Kamphuis", "url": "https://www.motivaction.nl/onze-mensen/andre-kamphuis" }, "datePublished": "2023-07-13T09:41:42+00:00", "dateCreated": "2023-08-07T07:42:57+00:00", "dateModified": "2024-05-08T08:22:57+00:00" } ```