Euthanasia Is Now 6% Of All Deaths In The Netherlands

 Via Remix News,

Euthanasia is now responsible for 6 percent of all deaths in the Netherlands, and this figure is increasing every year.

According to a report by the regional euthanasia review committee (RTE), cited by the news portal Hirado, 10,341 people died by euthanasia in 2025, and while three-quarters of the applicants were over 70 years old, one case involved someone between the age of 12 and 18.

The number of those choosing to die by euthanasia due to mental illnesses decreased by almost a fifth (174 cases), but more than 85 percent suffered from physical diseases such as cancer, nervous system disorders, and lung or cardiovascular diseases.

There were 499 cases of euthanasia performed on patients with dementia, and the RTE investigated 11 cases where the patient was no longer competent. In addition, 475 cases involved the co-existence of multiple age-related illnesses, and 278 cases involved “other reasons.”

Pro-life advocates have argued that these “other reasons” often include selfish human interests, such as family members pressuring or emotionally manipulating an older relative to go through with euthanasia in order to obtain inheritance faster. In these cases, euthanasia is often carried out even when, according to supporters, it could not be justified.

Another seven cases involved doctors who did not fully comply with the required standards of care, and these are under investigation.

Just recently in Spain, a 25-year-old woman, Noelia Castillo Ramos, ended her life, despite her parents waging a two-year legal battle, fighting until the last minute for their daughter’s life. Although a ruling by the Constitutional Court in Madrid states that euthanasia cannot be used in cases where the source of suffering is mental illness, since “the state has the duty to protect these individuals from the risk of suicide,” Castillo Ramos was nevertheless was allowed to go through with euthanasia.

According to the Christian Lawyers organization, which represented the woman’s parents at various levels during the legal battle, “this case highlights the failure of the euthanasia law, since it facilitates suicide without the individual having received prior mental health treatment,” meaning that they would have had a chance to recover and live a full and happy life.

Spain’s Catholic bishops warned that “euthanasia and assisted suicide are not medical acts, but deliberate interruptions of the bond of care, and represent a social defeat when presented as a response to human suffering.”

In Castillo’s specific case, they added, “we are not dealing with a fatal illness, but with deep wounds that cry out for attention, treatment and hope.” Their call was also significant because it could help prevent further cases that lead to the taking of innocent lives.

The Spanish bishops also reminded society that “the dignity of the human person does not depend on their state of health, their subjective perception of life or their degree of autonomy,” but rather “is an intrinsic value that must be recognized, protected and helped in all circumstances.” For this reason, the response to human suffering “can never be to cause death, but rather to offer closeness, accompaniment, appropriate care and comprehensive support.”

“When life hurts, the answer is not to shorten the path, but to walk it together. Only in this way can we build a truly just society, where no one feels alone or excluded,” they concluded.

A group of Dutch experts in the field of child psychiatry recently called attention to the need to be particularly careful when it comes to cases of young people under the age of 25 requesting euthanasia due to psychological suffering. Their research suggests that the decision-making abilities of members of this age group can be influenced by brain development and a number of external influences.

According to the professors cited, the condition of those under the age of 25 is less likely to be considered permanent than that of those older than them. In addition, they are more exposed to social pressure and online influences, which can cause significant damage and lead them to make a compulsive and short-sighted decision.

https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/euthanasia-now-6-all-deaths-netherlands

'Duodenal Mucosal Resurfacing Slows Post-Tirzepatide Weight Regain'

 Patients treated with duodenal mucosal resurfacing (DMR), an investigational endoscopic procedure, showed notable reductions in weight regain after discontinuing the weight-loss drug tirzepatide, according to 6-month results from the ongoing REMAIN-1 trial.

“If validated in the full trial, this procedure could fundamentally change how we think about GLP-1 therapy, and potentially be approved for use in the US,” said first author Shelby Sullivan, MD, in a briefing for the study, being presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026.

The intervention could “provide an off-ramp for patients who either can’t or don’t want to be on these drugs long term, with a minimally invasive procedure to lock-in the metabolic benefit,” said Sullivan, who is director of the Endoscopic Bariatric and Metabolic Program at Dartmouth Health Weight Center, Hanover, New Hampshire.

Despite the widespread popularity of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, real-world studies suggest that an estimated 70% of patients discontinue the drugs, after which weight regain can be rapid and substantial, highlighting the need for interventions post-discontinuation.

DMR, a minimally invasive procedure performed on an outpatient basis, uses hydrothermal ablation to remove the unhealthy inner mucosal lining from the duodenum, which can thicken over time and play a role in metabolic dysfunction.

The resurfacing procedure is theorized to trigger a “metabolic reset,” potentially “reducing reliance on chronic pharmacotherapy and preventing post-withdrawal weight regain,” Sullivan explained. 

The intervention has been evaluated for various indications, and shows benefit in the treatment of insulin-treated type 2 diabetes and conditions including hepatic steatosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). 

REMAIN-1 Program 

To test the approach in post-tirzepatide weight changes, Sullivan and her colleagues are conducting an ongoing multicenter, double-blind, sham controlled pivotal trial of more than 300 patients with obesity who achieved at least 15% of total body weight loss through treatment with the dual GLP-1/ GIP receptor agonist tirzepatide.

This arm of the program follows promising results from an open-label arm of 15 patients who were all treated with DMR following discontinuation of tirzepatide who were followed for 3 months, as previously reported by Medscape Medical News. 

The participants in the current study were randomized 2:1 at least 1-week post-discontinuation to receive either the resurfacing treatment or a sham procedure. 

Of note, patients in both groups were intubated and had an endoscope taken down to the small bowel, where only the treatment group received the actual ablation. 

A total of 80% of the participants were female, 42% had prediabetes, and their total body weight loss was 18 kg. 

In reporting the first results from the midpoint pilot study, Sullivan described the results up to 6 months of 45 participants, including 29 who underwent resurfacing and 16 who received the sham procedure. 

The patients had lost, on average, approximately 40 lbs while on tirzepatide. 

At 6 months following drug discontinuation, the treatment group regained about 7 lbs, representing a 40% lower total body weight change vs the sham group (4.5% vs 7.5%; P = .07). 

Patients in the treatment group who had more tissue resurfaced maintained more than 80% of their pre-discontinuation weight loss.

Safety? 

Importantly, no serious complications were reported from either the resurfacing device or the procedure. 

“Other than recovering from the general anesthesia, there isn’t much recovery time involved,” Sullivan said in a press statement. “You can be back to your daily routine in about a day.”

Despite both groups in the study receiving the intubation and endoscopic placement, “the symptoms are subtle enough that study participants could not tell if they had the sham or the procedure,” she added. 

How It Works 

The small bowel, targeted in the resurfacing procedure, is where hormones that are mimicked by GLP-1 drugs are produced. Changes over time in the duodenal mucosal layer specifically have effects on how the gut responds to food, including hormone production, potentially resulting in insulin resistance and metabolic disease, Sullivan explained.

“What we think is happening, based more on data from animal and human studies, is that there’s this transition to a more absorptive state,” she said.

“We’re essentially ablating the top layer of mucosa so that it grows back normally,” she added. 

Regarding the key question of how long the results may last before another resurfacing is necessary, Sullivan noted that data from other studies suggests general stability for up to 2 years.

“My suspicion is that it’s at least going to last for 2 years, and probably a little bit longer than that, but we don’t have clear answers to that at this point,” she said at the press briefing.

Previous studies looking at various other indications have shown significant improvement in areas such as metabolic function, control of glucose and A1c, and even in hepatic steatosis in MASH.

While the resurfacing procedure has not shown significant effects as a weight loss tool on its own in diabetes, Sullivan noted that its effects in maintaining weight appear more promising. “Part of the reason why this is effective is because it is changing people’s hunger,” she said.

“Whether or not it’s changing food choices is a question that we need to delve into further, but it is still reducing overall food intake and hunger.” 

Benefits Could Be ‘Significant’ 

In terms of potential reimbursement for the resurfacing procedure, Sullivan noted that a variety of avenues should be possible.

Commenting on the issue in the session, moderator Loren Laine, MD, who is chair of the DDW meeting, agreed that — with GLP-1 discontinuation rates known to be notably high — the benefits of an intervention to prevent the inevitable regaining of weight could be significant.

“In general, people aren’t good at taking medications, and frankly if a certain number of people stop them, the quality of life worsens and the costs increase as weight is regained, so I think it’s important,” said Laine, who is a professor of medicine and chief of the Section of Digestive Diseases at the Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

Further commenting to Medscape Medical News, Laine noted that high interest will be on what future results show regarding the intervention’s durability and how long the differences in the regaining of weight are sustained.

“Slowing weight regain is a positive outcome, but it’s uncertain if patients and providers will view it as sufficient if patients do regain much or all of their weight over time,” he said. 

Furthermore, “the authors also suggested that a greater length of ablation may have better efficacy, so exploring aspects of the ablation procedure in an attempt to optimize the procedure and outcomes will be useful,” he added.

Sullivan’s disclosures include consulting and/or relationships with Fractyl Health, Biolinq, and Olympus. Laine had no disclosures relating to the study.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/duodenal-mucosal-resurfacing-slows-post-tirzepatide-weight-2026a1000cz4

Colorectal Cancer Predicted to Keep Rising in Younger Adults

 Colorectal malignancy rates, particularly for rectal cancer, are accelerating among Americans younger than 45, and unless something changes, the rate is predicted to continue increasing out to the year 2035, new evidence has suggested.

In 2025, colorectal cancer was the second leading cause of cancer death in the US, responsible for an estimated 8.6% of total cancer mortality, according to American Cancer Society figures. Among people younger than 50, however, it is now the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, which is “a drastic shift from prior generations,” said Mythili Menon Pathiyil, MBBS, a gastroenterology fellow at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. 

“And it’s concerning because these individuals are not routinely screened,” said Pathiyil, lead author of a study previewed during a Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026 press briefing. 

Pathiyil and colleagues analyzed 24 years of mortality records from CDC’s WONDER database. They focused on changes in mortality trends for colorectal cancer among US adults aged 20-44 from 1999 to 2023. 

Rectal Cancer Driving Mortality Increases 

The researchers found that death rates for colorectal cancer among adults 20-44 years old rose continually from 1999 to 2023. 

“Our analysis found a striking and consistent pattern. Death rates for colorectal cancers steadily increased overall, with rectal cancer mortality rising two to three times faster than colon cancer mortality,” Pathiyil said. This trend was seen across demographic groups “and especially among adults between the ages of 35 and 44.” 

Colon cancer deaths rose 0.74% among people aged 35-39 and by 0.56% among those aged 40-44. The annual average percent change in colon cancer mortality was higher among men than women, 0.43% vs 0.24%. 

Rectal cancer mortality rose 1.77% among those aged 35-39 and by 1.71% among those aged 40-44. Men and women experienced similar increases in death rates, 1.83% for men vs 1.84% for women. 

“This markedly increasing incidence in colorectal cancer in younger individuals is really one of the most important, hottest topics now in GI and actually oncology as well, so it's very good to have an update,” said moderator Loren Laine, MD, gastroenterologist and a professor of medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, during the briefing. “Looking at the incidence over a long period of time was very important and the projection of continued increase is, of course, quite concerning.”

'Predicting Future Numbers' 

In addition to analyzing past numbers, researchers projected trends through 2035 using ARIMA, a machine learning model. Assuming current patterns do not change, the model shows rectal cancer deaths will continue escalating over the next decade in younger adults, while colon cancer deaths are expected to increase more slowly.

Rectal cancer deaths in men are anticipated to grow to 459 per year in 2035 (90 more than 2023), as well as reaching 304 among women (60 more projected deaths than in 2023). 

Colon cancer deaths among men are predicted to reach 834 per year in 2035 (42 more than in 2023). Annual deaths among women are expected to increase to 667 per year (19 more than 2023). 

Laine noted that the absolute numbers are relatively small compared to cases of colon and rectal cancer among older adults. 

Pathiyil agreed but said the important finding is the increasing trend in deaths, both past and predicted, among this otherwise young and healthy population. 

A Delay in Diagnosis 

Contributors to higher death rates among otherwise healthy adults include a lower suspicion for colorectal cancer in this age range, symptom misattribution, and a related delay in diagnosis. 

Evidence shows that young adults with rectal cancer wait an average of 7 months from first symptoms before treatment compared to about 1 month in patients 50 and older. “This delay can be the difference between an early and a late stage diagnosis,” Pathiyil said. 

In some cases, when a younger patient presents with rectal bleeding, providers will misattribute it to hemorrhoids and not order further workup, she explained. She cited a retrospective study looking at 3422 patients aged 18-40 who had a colonoscopy because of rectal bleeding. Those researchers found 48% had hemorrhoids.

“We need to revisit screening strategies, especially in high-risk subgroups, and we need to change how clinicians think about symptoms in younger patients,” Pathiyil said. Rectal bleeding in people younger than 45 years old should not be automatically attributed to hemorrhoids, nor should changes in bowel habits be automatically attributed to stress, she added. 

It seemed unlikely to Pathiyil or Laine that official guidelines would drop the minimum age for colonoscopy screening below 45 years in the near future. Instead, more targeted screening for those who are symptomatic or otherwise at higher risk is warranted.

Pathiyil also suggested flexible sigmoidoscopy could play a role in screening. “It looks into the left side of the colon, where for most young individuals the prevalence of cancer is higher.”

Hispanic adults had the fastest growing mortality rates of any demographic group for both colon and rectal cancer, with rectal cancer mortality projected to rise at more than 2% per year. “The disparities were pretty clear,” Pathiyil said.

For this reason, “equity has to be a part of this conversation,” she added. “The disproportionate rise among Hispanic adults demands targeted outreach, culturally appropriate education, and accessible screening programs.”

White adults also experienced ongoing increases across both colorectal and rectal cancer. In contrast, colon cancer mortality actually declined among Black and Asian/Pacific Islanders. “While that was encouraging, both groups still are seeing rising rectal cancer deaths,” Pathiyil said. 

In addition, rectal cancer death rates grew across each region of the US among people aged 20-44. She added, “These findings reinforce that rectal cancer is striking young Americans earlier and killing faster, and it is doing so at an accelerating pace.”

“Additionally, this is just an early signal, not the peak. Based on our projections, we see that the trend is not really plateauing. It seems to be accelerating, especially for rectal cancer,” Pathiyil said. If nothing changes in terms of awareness, symptom recognition or screening, she added, “this is just likely the front edge of a much larger wave.”

Pathiyil will present “A Growing Crisis: Two Decades of Rising Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Mortality and Projected Trends Through 2035 in U.S. Adults <45 years” (Abstract Sa1371) at 12:30 PM CDT on May 2 at DDW 2026. The study was independently supported. Pathiyil and Laine reported no relevant financial relationships. 

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/colorectal-cancer-predicted-keep-rising-younger-adults-2026a1000cy5

'Araghchi: Iranians united more than ever before'

 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took to X on Thursday to write that the people of Iran are "all united, more than ever before."

"The failure of Israel's terrorist killings is reflected in how Iran's state institutions continue to act with unity, purpose, and discipline,| Aragchi noted, going on to stress that "the battlefield and diplomacy are fully coordinated fronts in the same war."

His statement comes minutes after Iranian Nour News reported that air defense was engaged in the skies over Tehran.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Araghchi:-Iranians-united-more-than-ever-before/66138389

Israel said to think IRGC controls Iran, not Khamenei

 Israeli and US officials reportedly believe that Mojtaba Khamenei is not functioning as Iran's Supreme Leader, The Jerusalem Post said on Thursday. The sources suggest he is not issuing orders nor in actual control of the country. Instead, power has shifted to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

One source said the IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi has been the key figure running affairs, after reportedly assuming the role following the assassination of Major General Mohammad Pakpour in early March.

The Israeli report follows US President Donald Trump's morning remarks to MS NOW, claiming Iran "has no idea who their leader is." He said the US took out "three levels of leaders", leaving Tehran unable to determine who speaks for the country.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Israel-said-to-think-IRGC-controls-Iran-not-Khamenei/66138240

Ghalibaf said to resign from negotiating team

 Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf resigned from the negotiating team, Israeli Channel 12 reported on Thursday.

Ghalibaf's resignation allegedly comes following interference by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The news follows United States President Donald Trump's extension of the ceasefire on Tuesday, made without providing a specific new deadline for peace talks to reach an agreement. However, the American head of state yesterday claimed the negotiations may resume tomorrow.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Ghalibaf-said-to-resign-from-negotiating-team/66138220

'Axios: Iran may have placed more mines in Hormuz'

 Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) deployed more mines in the Strait of Hormuz this week, Axios reported on Thursday, citing a US official and another source familiar with the matter.

According to the report, US President Donald Trump instructed the US Navy to "shoot and kill" any Iranian boat putting mines in the strait after being briefed on the IRGC's activity.

The source added that the US military detected the Iranian operation in the critical maritime way and has been keeping a close eye on it. The military knows how many new mines Iran placed, the US official claimed, without revealing the exact number.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Iran-may-have-placed-more-mines-in-Hormuz/66138670