A Note from Kristen

Today was another gloomy day but we went as a group to the Dutch Voluntary Euthanasia Society, which is also called the Right to Die Society. We listened to the executive director talk about the law and policies of the Netherlands regarding euthanasia. He was extremely knowledgeable about the topic and is well-known around the world, so it was quite an experience to learn about and discuss the issue of euthanasia and the unique Dutch law regarding euthanasia with him. I learned a lot about the specific laws on euthanasia in the Netherlands; it was especially interesting to learn how Dutch culture is conducive to the euthanasia policy they have and why it works in the Netherlands but would be difficult to implement in other countries. This issue seems to be another example of how the unique Dutch emphasis on tolerance works to the benefit of citizens and allows them to be involved in important decisions regarding their lives, and in this case, deaths. Overall this afternoon's visit to the Dutch Right to Die Society turned out to be interesting and informative.