Why are more females than males euthanised?

59 replies

FissionChips · 10/08/2018 18:40

..in The Netherlands that is.
Just a quick glance at some research shows that 70% of people euthanised due to psychiatric disorders are female.

Any thoughts as to why this might be? Standard of care?
Just seems a shocking difference.

OP posts:

kesstrel · 10/08/2018 18:52

Women are more prone to psychiatric disorders, I believe, so the difference could just be reflective of the incidence in the population. Also, men are more likely to kill themselves, so maybe more of them do that rather than resort to requesting euthanasia.

FruitOnAPlatter · 10/08/2018 18:50

32% were over 70 years-old

Could it be as simple as the population of women being greater, so there are more asking to be euthanised?

According to this, at 70 men/women are fairly even, but by 80, there are 2 women to everyone man in the Netherlands

ReggieKrayDoYouKnowMyName · 10/08/2018 18:49

I don’t know the answer OP but read the case of Aurelia this morning and found it incredibly disturbing www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-45117163

PaintBySticker · 10/08/2018 18:47

I think more women are diagnosed with mental health problems?

The Netherlands is one of the few countries where euthanasia is allowed to allow people with psychiatric diagnoses (rather than physical illness) to request to die.

There’s been a recent article on the bbc news website about a 29 year old woman who was helped to die earlier this year. I found it very sad and shocking but I wondered if I was hypocritical as on balance I believe people should have a choice about ending their own life. It seemed so sad she couldn’t be helped.

SweetGrapes · 10/08/2018 18:47

Hmm... seems very easy to do
Here's one about a 20 something young woman with her life ahead of her

Original poster

FissionChips · 10/08/2018 18:46

They euth peoe for psychiatric disorders?? That cant be right

Sadly they do. A male friend of mine did this a couple of years ago.

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Original poster

FissionChips · 10/08/2018 18:45

This is the results of some research done. The data is for between 2011-2014.

70% (46 of 66) of patients were women, 32% were over 70 years-old, 44% were between 50–70, and 24% were 30–50. Most had chronic, severe conditions, with histories of attempted suicides and psychiatric hospitalizations. A majority had personality disorders and were described as socially isolated or lonely. Depressive disorders were the primary issue in 55% of cases. Other conditions represented were psychotic, PTSD/anxiety, somatoform, neurocognitive, and eating disorders, as well as prolonged grief and autism. Co-morbidities with functional impairments were common. A minority (41%) of physicians performing euthanasia/assisted suicide were psychiatrists. 18 (27%) patients received the procedure from physicians new to them, 15 (23%) of whom were physicians from the End-of-Life Clinic, a mobile euthanasia clinic. Consultation with other physicians was extensive, but 11% of cases had no independent psychiatric input and 24% of cases involved disagreement among consultants. The Review Committee found one case to have failed to meet legal due care criteria

OP posts:

LEMtheoriginal · 10/08/2018 18:43

They euth peoe for psychiatric disorders?? That cant be right

Aridane · 10/08/2018 18:42

How many in total are euthanised for psychiatric disorders?

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