Family of euthanized teen: Doc. who questioned their role in death did not regret it
The parents of 17-year-old Milou Verhoof from Bavel, who was euthanized in 2023 due to severe psychological suffering, are “not impressed” by the apologies that one of the psychiatrists gave. Jim van Os was in a group of doctors that sent out a letter asking the Public Prosecution Service (OM) to look into the role of parents and medical care providers in the girl’s death. This August, the family reported that they have been receiving death threats and were threatened at their home.
In May 2024, a group of 14 doctors, including van Os, sent a letter to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), asking to check to what extent parents and medical care providers might have contributed to the girl’s death. The death threats and harassment to the family then followed.
On Sunday, van Os went on the TV program Zomergasten, where he said that he apologized to the family. “It can be incredibly painful for parents to read something like this, and I have also apologized for that. I did that at an early stage.”
Milou’s mother then told BN De Stem on Monday that she was not impressed by that apology. She said that at the time van Os told her that he thinks the situation is regrettable “for everyone,” but that he does not regret the content of the letter sent to the OM. The mother then asked if that means that he still supports an investigation into her and her husband. Van Os replied, ‘Yes, someone is dead, aren’t they? Then you are allowed to be critical.’
Earlier, the parents went to court in The Hague, asking for the names of the 14 doctors to be revealed. The OM refused.
“We have been destroyed by doctors unknown to us with this letter, and our grieving process has been completely overshadowed ever since,” Milou’s mother said in court.
“Losing your child as a parent and having to miss them forever is the worst thing that can happen to you. As a parent, being subsequently accused of inciting the death of your child or being complicit in her death is indescribable and unliveable,” the mother added back then.
Van Os said on Sunday that the initiative was started by a colleague, which he defended. “He is a very honest colleague who operates with good intentions.”
“If you can or should learn something from this, it will be through disciplinary law,” he added.
