The Documentary Podcast

Assignment: Loving, living and dying together in the Netherlands


Listen Later

Els and Jan have fewer than three days left on Earth. Childhood sweethearts who met in kindergarten more than six decades ago, they know precisely when they will die. And how. On an early summer’s Monday morning they will travel to a nearby hospice. Some of their family and friends will accompany them. And then precisely at 10.30am - holding hands, they hope - two doctors will administer lethal medication to each of them.

In the Netherlands, euthanasia and assisted suicide are legal if someone is suffering unbearably with no prospect of getting better. The suffering can be physical or psychological. Els was diagnosed with dementia. Jan lived with pain 24/7.

Last year, 33 Dutch couples chose to die like Els and Jan. And in February, one of the Netherlands’ former Prime Ministers ended his life by euthanasia together with his wife.

For Assignment, Linda Pressly meets Els and Jan as they prepare for the end. And she explores the complex issue of allowing euthanasia in cases of dementia. A warning: some listeners might find the content of this documentary upsetting.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Documentary PodcastBy BBC World Service

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

1,602 ratings


More shows like The Documentary Podcast

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,723 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

368 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,036 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,513 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

956 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,876 Listeners

In Our Time: Philosophy by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Philosophy

870 Listeners

In Our Time: Culture by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Culture

606 Listeners

In Our Time: Science by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Science

724 Listeners

The History Hour by BBC World Service

The History Hour

585 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,828 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,075 Listeners

The Interview by BBC World Service

The Interview

364 Listeners

Lives Less Ordinary by BBC World Service

Lives Less Ordinary

599 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

961 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

436 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

417 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

739 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

843 Listeners

Today in Focus by The Guardian

Today in Focus

985 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,162 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

283 Listeners

The Explanation by BBC World Service

The Explanation

25 Listeners