Belgium divided on euthanasia for children

[Jazzy]

Belgium legalised the right to euthanasia for adults in 2002. Now the Senate has voted to extend the law to children who are terminally ill, and suffering unbearable physical pain. Supporters believe this would be a logical move. Opponents say it is insanity.

An incurably sick child, a request to die, a lethal injection. For many people this is an unimaginable, nightmare scenario.

Most of us will not experience the cruel reality of seeing a child's health deteriorate as a result of a terminal illness. But some Belgian paediatricians who have say children should be allowed to ask to end their lives, if they cannot be relieved of their physical symptoms.

Under the draft bill, passed in the Senate last month by 50 votes to 17, children must understand what euthanasia is, and their parents and medical teams have to approve the child's request to die.

In the Netherlands, Belgium's northern neighbour, euthanasia is legal for children over the age of 12, if they have the consent of their parents. But if the Belgian bill is passed in the lower house of parliament, Belgium will be the first nation in the world to lift all age restrictions.

Dr Marleen Renard, an oncologist responsible for paediatric palliative care at the University Hospital of Leuven, believes there is no need to legislate for child euthanasia, as there are already ways to end the suffering of a dying child.

"If we can't treat the pain, then we can sedate children. And if we see that the situation is really inhumane, we can go to our Ethics Committee and ask for permission to end life. But we have to have the consensus of a lot of people to do that."

For Renard, the critical point is that in her experience, children do not ask to die.

"I've seen a lot of young adolescents with very severe pain and symptoms. They always had some hope for the next day. I've never had one who told me, 'I can't do it any more, please stop it.' They don't want to die. They want to live."

Full article

Your thoughts on this?

 

[DrLeftover]

Get ready for it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-dQfb8WQvo

 

[Kirito]

Just for clarity, the senate in Belgium really doesn't have anything to say. All they can do is suggest laws to what's called "lower house of parliament" in that article. I very much doubt we'll see that law pass any time soon.

Anyway, I don't know where I stand on the issue. I really don't think you need to be 18 to decide that enough is enough. It'd probably be better if they just followed in the footsteps of holland.

 

[Evil Eye]

Hmm, not exactly nice to think about. Necessary though.
Why make a child suffer through something an adult wouldn't have to?

 

[Evil Eye]

Update: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26181615

Belgium's parliament votes through child euthanasia

Parliament in Belgium has passed a bill allowing euthanasia for terminally ill children without any age limit, by 86 votes to 44, with 12 abstentions.

 

[Jazzy]

Update: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26181615

Belgium's parliament votes through child euthanasia

Parliament in Belgium has passed a bill allowing euthanasia for terminally ill children without any age limit, by 86 votes to 44, with 12 abstentions.

Hard for me to think about a child dying but if the child is suffering from a painful terminal illness, then I would have voted for this as well.

 

[Evil Eye]

I'm surprised more people didn't abstain.