Where the prescription for autism can be death (xpost from GD)

[KamaAina]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-the-prescription-for-autism-can-be-death/2016/02/24/8a00ec4c-d980-11e5-81ae-7491b9b9e7df_story.html

In early childhood, the Dutch psychiatric patient known as 2014-77 suffered neglect and abuse. When he was about 10, doctors diagnosed him with autism. For approximately two decades thereafter, he was in and out of treatment and made repeated suicide attempts....

A few years ago, 2014-77 asked a psychiatrist to end his life. In the Netherlands, doctors may perform euthanasia — not only for terminal physical illness but also upon the “voluntary and well-considered” request of those suffering “unbearably” from incurable mental conditions.

The doctor declined, citing his belief that the case was treatable, as well as his own moral qualms. But he did transmit the request to colleagues, as Dutch norms require. They treated 2014-77 for one more year, determined his case was, indeed, hopeless and, in due course, administered a fatal dose of drugs.

Thus did a man in his 30s whose only diagnosis was autism become one of 110 people to be euthanized for mental disorders in the Netherlands between 2011 and 2014. That’s the rough equivalent of 2,000 people in the United States.

[CamCake]

1. He was in pain.

I have no words. This makes me sad, though.

[mapol]

2. Disgusting!

I have no words. This makes me sad, though.

It makes me angry!

I once read about a physician who killed her 3-year-old autistic daughter because she couldn't handle her. I also read about a mother from Britain who killed both herself and her 12-year-old autistic child by taking her child to the Dee River, and having them both jump in the river and drowning, for the same reason; not being able to handle her kid's autism.

Having said all of the above, both of these women should've gotten professional psychiatric help before they reached that point.