Scott Alexander debunks misleading statistics about euthanasia in the Netherlands, showing claims of widespread non-consensual euthanasia are false and not supported by careful analysis of the data. Longer summary

Scott Alexander debunks misleading statistics about euthanasia in the Netherlands. He analyzes the original Remmelink Report and more recent studies to show that claims of widespread non-consensual euthanasia are false. The post explains how opponents misinterpret data, conflating end-of-life care practices with euthanasia. It presents evidence that legalization of euthanasia in the Netherlands did not lead to a 'slippery slope' or disproportionate impacts on vulnerable groups. The post concludes that responsible research shows euthanasia in the Netherlands is applied consensually and in accordance with guidelines, with no evidence of misapplication. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander provides a stark, critical look at end-of-life care in hospitals, challenging idealized notions of death and the concept of 'cultivating a culture of life'. Longer summary

Scott Alexander describes the harsh realities of end-of-life care in modern hospitals, contrasting it with common idealized notions of death. He details the often undignified and painful process many patients go through, criticizes the concept of 'cultivating a culture of life' in hospitals, and expresses his personal wishes for a dignified death. The post is divided into three sections: a graphic description of typical hospital deaths, a critique of hospital poetry, and personal reflections on death and euthanasia. Shorter summary