Where the prescription for autism can be death

[KamaAina]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-the-prescription-for-autism-can-be-death/2016/02/24/8a00ec4c-d980-11e5-81ae-7491b9b9e7df_story.html

In early childhood, the Dutch psychiatric patient known as 2014-77 suffered neglect and abuse. When he was about 10, doctors diagnosed him with autism. For approximately two decades thereafter, he was in and out of treatment and made repeated suicide attempts....

A few years ago, 2014-77 asked a psychiatrist to end his life. In the Netherlands, doctors may perform euthanasia — not only for terminal physical illness but also upon the “voluntary and well-considered” request of those suffering “unbearably” from incurable mental conditions.

The doctor declined, citing his belief that the case was treatable, as well as his own moral qualms. But he did transmit the request to colleagues, as Dutch norms require. They treated 2014-77 for one more year, determined his case was, indeed, hopeless and, in due course, administered a fatal dose of drugs.

Thus did a man in his 30s whose only diagnosis was autism become one of 110 people to be euthanized for mental disorders in the Netherlands between 2011 and 2014. That’s the rough equivalent of 2,000 people in the United States.

[Ex Lurker]

1. I am in favor of personal autonomy, including in end of life decisions.

However, I acknowledge this is both a logical, and troubling, extension of that, and I don't have an answer for it.

[DonCoquixote]

2. here is where personal autonomy can reach it's limit

When the reasons someone has a low quality of life are the society will not accept them, than you open the door for prejudice to be furthered under the kindly guise of medicine. Imagine how this would be used on homosexuals or transgender.