At the start of February both Dries van Agt, a Catholic former Dutch prime minister, and his wife chose to die together through euthanasia.
Married for 70 years, both Van Agt and his wife, Eugenie, were ill and 93 years old at the time of theirs deaths that are part of a small but growing trend in the Netherlands for “duo euthanasia”, reports the Guardian.
It notes that while still rare, the collective euthanasia of couples was first highlighted in a 2020 review of all euthanasia cases in the country, when 26 people were "granted euthanasia" – also known as assisted suicide – at the same time as a partner. In 2021 the number was 32 and in 2022 had increased to 58.
