Abstract
Euthanasia in the Netherlands, which has been legal since 1984, is often talked about; yet, only rarely does it culminate in a euthanasia death. In 2001, for example, only 1 in 10 of those who initiated a request for euthanasia with their physician died a euthanasia death. Using data gathered during a 15-month ethnographic study with general practitioners, families, and patients, this article explores the practice of euthanasia, a practice based mainly in talk. Applying a Foucauldian concept of discourse, I will examine euthanasia as a script for how people think, feel, and act at the end of Dutch life, attempting to answer the question: What are Dutch people talking about when they talk about euthanasia? This article is intended to provide ethnographic data not currently available on the modern-day practice of euthanasia and to add to a growing body of literature on death, dying, and the role of the state.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
