Psychologist convicted of giving anti-vomit medication to people considering suicide
The Oost Brabant court in Den Bosch sentenced retired psychologist Wim van Dijk to a six-month suspended prison sentence and 40 hours of community service. The 80-year-old was found guilty of the illegal trade in the anti-nausea medication Domperidone to be used in combination with the suicide drug X. He was convicted of violating the Medicines Act, not of assisted suicide.
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) had recommended that Van Dijk be sentenced to 12 months in prison, six of which suspended, and a probation period of three years. The OM argued that the anti-vomit medication he provided was indispensable in committing suicide with drug X.
Van Dijk acquired 213 sets of Drug X and Domperidon from Alex S., a 31-year-old Eindhoven man convicted last year of violating Dutch laws against assisted suicide. He was accused of helping at least ten people end their lives and sending the two substances to at least 1,600 individuals. S. was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison, including 18 months he can serve on probation,
The court emphasized that Van Dijk has not yet been prosecuted on assisted suicide charges. “People who wanted Substance X were invited by the suspect to his home for a conversation. Based on that conversation, he decided whether he felt comfortable providing the suicide agent and the anti-emetic,” the court said in a statement.
It added that “to date, there are no known deaths for which the suspect is indirectly responsible. However, he did provide the antiemetic as an essential part of the set with drug X and that set was intended for suicide.” So while the retired psychologist wasn’t prosecuted for assisted suicide, the criminal case against him is “inextricably linked” to it.
Van Dijk said he would no longer provide the medicines, but the court sees a risk of recurrence. The man is the chairman of Stichting Levenseinderegie, a foundation arguing for a revision of the euthanasia law so that people have more say in how their lives end. “Given the suspect’s personal conviction, it cannot be ruled out that he will once again adhere to his own moral frameworks.” The court therefore imposed a “substantial conditional prison sentence” on him in addition to community service.
Earlier this year, the court in Arnhem convicted two members of Coöperatie Laatste Wil of assisted suicide by providing drug X. In this case, there was evidence that their provision of the suicide drug resulted in people taking their own lives. Both got suspended prison sentences and were put on probation.
