SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS – Three commercial radio stations in the Netherlands have stopped playing music by rapper and producer Sean Combs, better known as Diddy, following his arrest on a string of charges including human trafficking and sexual assault.

The complaints against him are serious enough to merit an immediate ban, a spokesman for Talpa Radio told news website Nu.nl.

I’ll Be Missing You, Diddy’s 1997 hit with Faith Evans, was a regular number on 538, Sky Radio and Radio 10.

“Usually our policy is to wait for an investigation and a court ruling before adapting our programming,” a spokesman said. “But in this case, given the seriousness of the complaints and global sensitivities… we have decided not to programme his music now.”

Combs was arrested in New York on September 16 and on Tuesday it emerged a further 120 complaints have been made against him, involving men and women between the ages of nine and 38.

A lawyer for the hip hop mogul has said he “emphatically and categorically” denies the allegations, saying they are “false and defamatory”.

(DutchNews)

1. At 5:00 PM, Hurricane Kirk was located approximately 1525 miles east-southeast of St. Maarten. Kirk is expected to become a major hurricane by Thursday. However, it is not predicted to pose a direct threat to St. Maarten.
2. A tropical wave over the far eastern tropical Atlantic has a high (90%) chance of formation over the next 2 to 7 days. A tropical depression is very likely to form within 24 to 48 hours.

SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS – The federation of doctors KNMG has called the behaviour of 14 prominent psychiatrists who urged the public prosecution office to take action in the case of the euthanasia of a 17-year-old girl “indecent and unacceptable”.

The KNMG, which also arbitrates in matters of ethics, said the psychiatrists were wrong to send a letter in which they called for a criminal investigation into the parents and doctors who treated the girl.

They called on prosecutors to find out “to what extent those close to this vulnerable patient (…) influenced this young patient’s decision to choose euthanasia.

The psychiatrists had never spoken to the girl or her parents and doctors. “This action could not only potentially damage caregivers, and relatives but also undermine public trust in the profession,” the KNMG said in a strongly-worded reaction.

The case revolves around Milou, who had suffered from depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts from the age of 11 following sexual abuse. She was again sexually abused in an institution by another patient.

After years of treatment and various suicide attempts, she chose euthanasia at the age of 17 on the grounds of unbearable mental suffering.

Procedures followed

The psychiatrist who approved her decision acted in accordance with the guidelines, the Regionale Toetsingscommissie Euthanasie found.

The committee reviews all euthanasia procedures to make sure the correct procedures have been followed and reports back to the prosecution service.

However, prominent psychiatrists disagreed and wrote to the public prosecution office, questioning the right of a minor to opt for euthanasia and whether it is right to assume that mental suffering cannot be cured.

In the letter they mention the “widespread promotion of euthanasia” which in their opinion could lead to “the unnecessary death” of young patients.

The ensuing vehement discussion via social media and letters to papers lacked “respect for the parents and each other”, the KNMG said.

In a statement quoted by the Volkskrant, Milou’s parents welcomed the KNMG’s rebuke and said they await “a personal apology from all psychiatrists involved and an official rectification”.

Professor of psychiatry Damiaan Denys, who signed the letter to the public prosecution office, said the KNMG’s reaction was “unnecessary, unwise and late”, but admitted the letter may not have been the best way of calling attention to “the ease with which euthanasia is mentioned for young people with mental problems”.

(DutchNews)

1. At 5:00 PM, Tropical Storm Kirk was located approximately 1850 miles east-southeast of St. Maarten. Kirk is forecasted to become a hurricane tomorrow and could increase to a major hurricane by Wednesday. However, it is expected to remain over open waters and is not predicted to pose a direct threat to St. Maarten.
2. A tropical wave over the far eastern tropical Atlantic has a medium to high (50% to 90%) chance of formation over the next 2 to 7 days. A tropical depression is very likely to form within a few days.