General
Public Prosecution Service to Appeal Ruling Requiring Disclosure of Psychiatrists' Names in 17-Year-Old Milou's Euthanasia Case
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The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) is appealing a court ruling that ordered it to disclose the names of psychiatrists who signed a critical letter regarding the euthanasia of 17-year-old Milou, despite having already complied with the initial decision. The OM argues on principle that citizens must be able to share concerns with justice authorities in confidence without fear of their identities being revealed. This dispute stems from an April 2024 letter by psychiatrist Wilbert van Rooij and thirteen other doctors, including Damiaan Denys and Jim van Os, which expressed worries about the discourse surrounding euthanasia for mental illness and suggested a preliminary criminal investigation into Milou’s death. Milou’s parents sought the names to hold the doctors accountable through professional disciplinary channels, arguing their interest outweighed the OM’s claim of confidentiality. The court agreed with the parents, but the OM contends this was an incorrect balancing of interests and seeks a fresh review by a higher court.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's