My parents chose to die together and I was left to grieve alone
Summary
In June 2024, Dutch couple Jan and Els died together at a hospice through duo-euthanasia, after doctors administered lethal medication. Their only child, Bas, says he tried to persuade them to wait but supported their choice, and describes the emotional strain and loneliness he experienced afterward.Key Facts
- Jan and Els were in their 70s and had spent much of their married life on the water.
- Jan lived with ongoing pain after years of hauling cargo on the Netherlands' inland waterways.
- Els had dementia, and the family worried that its progression could affect her ability to make the decision herself.
- The couple chose to die together at a hospice in June 2024.
- Duo-euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands and is rare.
- Bas drove his parents to the hospice and recalls that his father asked whether they were making the right choice.
- In the months before their deaths, Bas asked his parents to consider waiting, but he also supported their decision.
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