11 April 2001

Medics will have to work to strict rules

The Dutch senate gives formal approval to a bill legalising euthanasia, making the Netherlands the first country in the world to allow so-called mercy killing.

 The BBC's Samantha Simmonds reports

10 April 2001

Supporters of the law say it enshrines a person's right to die

A majority of Dutch people favour the legislation, but opponents call on senators to reject the law and "leave matters of life and death in God's hands".

Rob Jonquiere of the Dutch Voluntary Euthanasia Society and Dr Peter Saunders of the Christian Medical Fellowship discuss the plans.

 Listen to the discussion

28 November 2000

The Dutch Parliament building in The Hague

Euthanasia has been tolerated in The Netherlands for many years, but remained illegal until the Dutch parliament began the process of legalisation by voting 104 to 40 in favour of doctor-assisted suicide.

 The BBC's Angus Roxburgh reports

15 April 1999

An injection can kill in minutes

With almost 4,000 people dying of assisted euthanasia every year in Holland, many doctors work under the shadow of prosecution.

 The BBC's Andrew Burroughs meets a Dutch doctor