Network emerges in Denmark against assisted dying amid ongoing debate

A prominent group has emerged in Denmark’s ongoing debate over assisted dying, clearly taking a stand against it. The network, titled “No to Assisted Suicide,” launched earlier this summer, has gained 35 new members, including notable figures such as commentator Emma Holten, former Minister Mette Bock, and professor emeritus in criminal law Jørn Vestergaard. Søren Brostrøm, the former head of the National Board of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, has also joined the network, which now has a total of 53 members.

Brostrøm, who currently serves as a senior advisor to the WHO Director-General in Geneva, emphasizes that his motivation as a physician is to save lives and alleviate pain, stating that euthanasia “should not be part of a doctor’s role.” The government’s recent establishment of a committee to propose a “more dignified death” model follows Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s endorsement of assisted dying.

The committee’s preliminary findings, presented before the summer, suggest models to allow terminally ill patients to receive medication that leads to death. However, Brostrøm criticizes this initiative as “something shabby,” expressing concerns about misunderstandings surrounding assisted dying and advocating for better palliative care options.

Brostrøm hopes to leverage his position within the network to enrich the dialogue on the subject and urges politicians to heed the professionals’ reservations. The network articulates seven key points highlighting their stance against assisted dying, including the notion that it places undue pressure on vulnerable individuals.

They argue that the desire for control in end-of-life decisions deserves a nuanced discussion, stressing that pain relief options already exist and should be prioritized rather than resorting to state-sanctioned euthanasia solutions.