A Kingston University study found several people with learning disabilities and autism in the Netherlands chose to die legally through euthanasia and assisted suicide due to feeling unable to cope with the world, changes around them or because they struggled to form friendships.
  • A Kingston University study found that people with learning disabilities and autism in the Netherlands chose euthanasia and assisted suicide because of loneliness and difficulty making friends.
  • Between 2012 and 2021, almost 60,000 cases of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide have been reported in the Netherlands.
  • The study found that the majority of people with learning disabilities and autism chose this path because of anxiety, loneliness, and a lack of feeling that they have a place in society.
  • The study highlights the need for an international debate around the criteria for euthanasia and assisted suicide and the response to such requests from vulnerable patient groups.
  • The study also highlights the importance of investing in highly personalized support services for people with disabilities and autism.