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A suicide law being proposed in the Netherlands could give all over-75s the right to kill themselves.

It is thought to be the first time a law helping healthy people die has been proposed anywhere in the world.

The Netherlands, as well as Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Canada already have laws which help very ill patients take their own lives.

But under the proposed new law, those over 75 could also be legally helped to end their life if they have shown a ‘sustainable, well-considered and intrinsic’ wish to die.

A specially trained ‘life-ending consultant’ would give their verdict about the death wish, which has to be seconded by another consultant or checking committee.

(Image: Getty)

Under its existing mercy killing law introduced 16 years ago Dutch euthanasia practices killed more than 5,500 people last year.

Fiona Bruce, co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group, said: “The House of Commons voted during this Parliament by a majority against legalising assisted suicide in this country, and for very good reasons, as this proposed new law in the Netherlands shows.

“The right way to help vulnerable elderly people is not to help them to end their lives but to support them through good palliative care, of which our country is a world leader, to live in the most comfortable way possible in their later years.”

The life-ending consultant would have at least two interviews with the OAP, at least two months apart, to make sure the person knows what they are deciding and that they are not being pressured.

The life-ending consultant could be a doctor, a nurse, a psychologist or a psychotherapist.

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The proposed law was drawn up by MP Pia Dijkstra of the left-liberal D66 party and is likely to find support with Prime Minister Mark Rutte ’s coalition formed by the liberal VVD and their social-democratic partners of the PvdA, the Dutch Labour party .

The Ministers of Justice and Public Health have previously sent a joint letter to Parliament advocating a similar law.

However three Christian parties as well as the Socialist Party (SP) oppose the new law.

Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said: “The assisted dying law we advocate for the UK would be available only to terminally ill - mentally competent adults with less than six months to live - under strict safeguards.

“This model is based on one that has operated safely and effectively in Oregon, USA, for the past 19 years where there has been no extension of the law beyond the criteria of terminal illness.

“We do not seek to introduce a Dutch style law in the UK.

“Britain will get the law that the British Parliament passes.

“It is important that we get the right law for British people, 82% of whom support assisted dying for terminally ill adults.”