Netherlands: suicide website for teenagers

The November 12 edition of Dutch daily de Volkskrant reported on the launch of a new website that provides detailed information on how to commit suicide. Created by Right to Die-NL, the website is reportedly one of the first sites worldwide to provide detailed information on a number of ways to commit suicide through medical means.

Right to Die-NL Director Petra de Jong said of the development,: “We found there was a great need for this kind of information and we wanted to prevent people with a death wish having to resort to gruesome methods. Sometimes they jump in front of a train, hang themselves or set themselves on fire. This is not only terrible for them, but also for the next of kin and aid workers. We believe people have the right to die with dignity.”

Access to the new website is restricted, but the information can be accessed within a few hours if the visitor pays a membership fee of 17 euros and 50 cents. Members must be over 16 years of age. Assisting a person to commit suicide is a crime in the Netherlands, but Right to Die-NL says this does not apply to its website because it does not provide instructions, but only information. The publication of several books containing similar information has yet to lead to convictions.

De Jong said of the website, “In the past, books could simply be ordered. On top of which, nobody can kill themselves on impulse using information obtained from our website. It would take time, because certain medicines are not easily available.”