Health News in Brief: Danish ‘suicide doctor’ posts ineffective instructions on how to kill yourself online

In other news, stress management around Denmark is improving and the University of Copenhagen has unveiled new discoveries about antibiotic resistance.

Svend Lings, a retired Danish doctor, has been widely criticised for publishing a post on the Aktiv Dødshjælps website detailing the fatal doses of many prescription drugs and how to successfully commit suicide using them.

The ‘Suicide Doctor’ believed the publication would avoid the unnecessary suffering of suicide survivors, who may suffer permanent mental and physical debilitation.

Kim Dalhoff, an expert in toxicology at Bispebjerg Hospital, commented that the recommended doses do not guarantee death.

The chair of the Medical Association’s ethical committee, Lise Møller, additionally said that the act was ”totally unacceptable and very inhumane”.

The post has since been taken down.


Danish municipalities to institute new nine-week stress reduction program
A new nine-week meditation program designed to decrease the costs of stress has been so effective that the National Board of Heath has said all municipalities should adopt it. ‘Åben og Rolig’, which has helped 3,000 Danes over the last five years, has not just relived stress for those individuals, but helped in reducing approximate annual costs of 2 billion kroner. It is believed that one in four Danes suffer from high levels of stress. The Center for Mental Health Promotion said the current quality of stress management in the municipalities is inadequate.

University of Copenhagen identifies antibiotic resistance enzyme
A new enzyme has been shown to initiate a hibernation survival program in disease-causing bacteria that allows them to survive antibiotic action. Antibiotics work by targeting a cell’s ability to grow and multiply, thereby stopping this process until the antibiotic is flushed away. The bacteria is then able to lie dormant and survive, ready to cause infection later. This research comes from a new study at the University of Copenhagen and, as Professor Kenn Gerdes explained, ”if you can develop an antibiotic to target the enzyme, you can fight antibiotic resistance.”




  • What do Danes do for “Vinterferie”?

    What do Danes do for “Vinterferie”?

    As tradition has it, many Danes take a week off for Vinterferie next week. Or the week after. It’s a bit confusing, especially since Christmas and New Year’s Holiday are not far away. What’s going on?

  • The educational options for internationals in Denmark

    The educational options for internationals in Denmark

    Denmark offers free public education, but private schools and universities for non-EU students require tuition. Language is a barrier, with international schools available for children and limited English-taught university programs. In 2024, Denmark expanded university seats for internationals and introduced an HF-international program in Aarhus.

  • Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF program for internationals

    Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF program for internationals

    Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF-international program in August, offering young adult internationals an alternative to IB programs with a focus on career-oriented education and Danish language learning. Unlike IB, it reduces academic pressure while providing access to vocational schools and professional bachelor’s degrees

  • Top Danish companies report strong financial performance

    Top Danish companies report strong financial performance

    Some of Denmark’s leading companies reported solid financial results for 2024, with Lundbeck, Demant, and Vestas seeing growth, while Pandora tackled rising production costs with price increases and cost-saving measures.

  • Greenland restricts foreign property purchases and election donations

    Greenland restricts foreign property purchases and election donations

    These days, the Greenlandic institutions are approving two new norms to restrict, reduce, or ban the possibility for foreign citizens to buy real estate on the island, as well as for political parties to receive large amounts of money from foreign donors.

  • “The retention of international labor is one of the biggest problems,” EY’s director says on integration 

    “The retention of international labor is one of the biggest problems,” EY’s director says on integration 

    In the interest of both native companies and international workers, Ernst & Young (EY) Head of Immigration Rikke Gahrn Wolfsen recommends a change within the Danish integration culture. “The retention of international labor is one of the biggest problems we’re facing at the moment,” she says.