Former Dutch PM Dries van Agt and Wife Choose Duo Euthanasia

Dries van Agt, alongside his wife Eugenie, opted for simultaneous euthanasia, highlighting a rare but growing trend in the Netherlands.

Former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt and his wife, Eugenie, both 93, died by duo euthanasia in Nijmegen, marking a rare instance of simultaneous euthanasia.
The couple, married for over 70 years, chose to end their lives together due to deteriorating health, with van Agt having never fully recovered from a 2019 brain hemorrhage.
Duo euthanasia is part of a growing trend in the Netherlands, with 29 couples opting for assisted suicide in 2022, reflecting strict legal requirements for unbearable suffering with no prospect of relief.
Van Agt, a conservative who advanced liberal causes including the decriminalization of cannabis, later became a pro-Palestinian activist after his political career.
The Netherlands, where euthanasia has been legal since 2002, saw over 8,700 people die by euthanasia or assisted suicide in 2022, with strict criteria ensuring a well-considered and voluntary request.