Anyone who doubts the “slippery slope” argument against legalized suicide may be interested to know that nearly 3 percent of all deaths in the Netherlands, where euthanasia was legalized in 2002, now occur as the result of euthanasia. CatholicCulture.org reports (Oct 9, 2012) that the number of euthanasia cases in the Netherlands rose by 18% from 2010 to 2011.
According to an article in the online journal DutchNews.nl, the 3,695 instances of euthanasia recorded in official statistics included 13 psychiatric patients and 49 persons with dementia. Minors as young as 12 may opt for assisted suicide with parental consent.