Belgian Senate votes to extend euthanasia to children

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25364745

13 December 2013 Last updated at 11:49 GMT

Belgian Senate votes to extend euthanasia to children

The Belgian Senate has voted in favour of extending its euthanasia law to terminally-ill children.

The Senate voted 50-17 in favour of the legislation, which is opposed by religious leaders in Belgium.

The bill seeks to allow children to ask for euthanasia if their illness is terminal, they are in great pain and there is no available treatment.

It will now go before the lower house of parliament, where correspondents say it is likely to be approved.

Belgium passed a law decriminalising euthanasia for terminally-ill people over the age of 18 in 2002.

The latest bill proposes to make Belgium the first country in the world to remove any age limit on the practice.

But it stipulates a number of caveats on euthanasia:

It says the patient must be conscious of their decision and understand the meaning of euthanasia
The request must have been approved by the child's parents and medical team
Their illness must be terminal
They must be in great pain, with no available treatment to alleviate their distress
In November, 16 paediatricians urged lawmakers in Belgium to approve the legislation in an open letter.

"Experience shows us that in cases of serious illness and imminent death, minors develop very quickly a great maturity, to the point where they are often better able to reflect and express themselves on life than healthy people," said their statement.

During the Senate debate, supporters of the bill said it would empower doctors and terminally-ill children to make a difficult decision.

"There is no age for suffering and, next to that, it's very important that we have a legal framework for the doctors who are confronted with this demand today and for the minors, for the capable minors, who are suffering today, and who I think should have the freedom to choose how they cope with their suffering," said Senator Jean-Jacques de Gucht, of the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats.

But opponents in the Senate said children were not capable of making such a decision.

"We think that children don't understand the character of death, they don't understand the irreversibility of death," said Els Van Hoof of the Christian Democratic and Flemish party. "They are also influenced by authority, by their parents, by the medical team. So, to take a decision which is a huge decision about their death we don't think that they are capable of doing it."

In 2012, Belgium recorded 1,432 cases of euthanasia in 2012, up by 25% from 2011.
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Have to once again agree with my semi-homestate. I've suffered from several incurable auto-immune diseases since childhood and not had a day without agony in memory, and unlike cancer? Almost no money is going into research. Every day is a challenge, and while I'm not quite suicidal, the option of euthanasia would be extremely comforting if adopted here.
 
But opponents in the Senate said children were not capable of making such a decision.

"We think that children don't understand the character of death, they don't understand the irreversibility of death," said Els Van Hoof of the Christian Democratic and Flemish party. "They are also influenced by authority, by their parents, by the medical team. So, to take a decision which is a huge decision about their death we don't think that they are capable of doing it."
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I don't understand why people are saying this. The kid (or adult) is going to die anyway so there isn't a life or death decision to be made. It's just death. The only issue is when.
 
Picard said:
I don't understand why people are saying this. The kid (or adult) is going to die anyway so there isn't a life or death decision to be made. It's just death. The only issue is when.
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And no different to you, I or every other human before.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9300 using Tapatalk
 
It's time to bring this to south africa. My mom in law has been suffering from MS for 20 years - she just lies in bed and breathes - quite a pathetic life - death would be a blessing. If you can put an animal out of its suffering, why not a human being?
 
mrs_ant_man said:
It's time to bring this to south africa. My mom in law has been suffering from MS for 20 years - she just lies in bed and breathes - quite a pathetic life - death would be a blessing. If you can put an animal out of its suffering, why not a human being?
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My brother was diagnosed with MS 20 years ago. It is under control, but it did cost him his one passion in life, flying. He is coping though, restores sports cars instead. Worked his ass off to make sure his family is take care of - eldest starts Law next year. But it is hanging over him like a sword. Any day he will wake up and it will have worsened. A old family friend was diagnosed years ago. She's 48, in a care facility, in a vegetative state. I really hope my brother will have access to this when the time comes. (Knowing him, that day will be a incredible party.)

(To the guys on this board who know me - I'd like a Mariachi Band at mine.)

And to even just imagine having a child with no hope, just a lifetime of suffering... As a parent - I hope I never have to make that decision. But also - as a parent of two incredible human beings - if need be, I hope I can.
 
I will always vehemently oppose euthanasia. Anything is better than nothing.
 
Uncle in the UK was always a firm pro-lifer and would not consider any argument to the contrary and in fact threw several people out his house who wanted to discuss it.

Then in 1991 he was diagnosed with Parkinsons. He had an op in 1998 which lessened the shaking, but he could still not do anything for himself. After putting up with it for a further 6 years, he decided to go to the Veritas (sp) clinic in Switzerland and after saying goodbye to everyone, was given an injection and off he went. He was 76. He said, in 2004 that his faith had abandoned him and he realised his total opposition to euthanasia was misplaced.
 
Its your life, your choice.

However minors it would have to be moderated much more than adults who understand what it is.

Either legalize a simple injection with counseling or allow people to commit suicide which only hurts the family more
 
My uncle and his wife discussed it with the bishop, who while he said he was opposed due to teachings by the church, fully agreed with the decision my uncle had made. They had 4 months to make up their minds and my aunt was so at peace with herself when he died that we immediately saw it was the right decision

I was very upset when I first heard what he was going to do, since he was the only uncle I ever had and was a marvellous fellow, extremely bright and used to appear on BBC "My Word" quite often. He made me a special video at the clinic in which he explained his decision in great detail and I then agreed with him. He met with Stephen Hawking several times and they discussed the matter and concept
 
Would they have to be terminally ill, or would screaming in a restaurant be sufficient reason?

Garson007 said:
Because anyone that chooses death over life is not enlightened.
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You should know that people like me would be quite insulted at being called "enlightened". Since everyone that disagrees with a lefty liberal is "unenlightened", "enlightened" basically means "agrees with us". Personally, I'll proudly wear the label "unenlightened", rather than the other option.
 
Garson007 said:
Because anyone that chooses death over life is not enlightened.
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So arrogant. I take it life is just peachy for you. There are, however, people who live a life of pure hell everyday that would welcome death as the rational and dignified choice.

We are machines, a frail and flawed one at that. Sometimes, we are so broken that hope is not enough. To understand, respect and have compassion for their decision; that is enlightened.
 
Drunkard #1 said:
You should know that people like me would be quite insulted at being called "enlightened". Since everyone that disagrees with a lefty liberal is "unenlightened", "enlightened" basically means "agrees with us". Personally, I'll proudly wear the label "unenlightened", rather than the other option.
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I see, is a logical fallacy how you handle all arguments?

I never said that all those that oppose euthanasia are enlightened.
 
BandwidthAddict said:
So arrogant.
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I'll gladly be called anything. You will not convince me otherwise. My philosophy is rock solid.

BandwidthAddict said:
I take it life is just peachy for you. There are, however, people who live a life of pure hell everyday that would welcome death as the rational and dignified choice.
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And pure hell is still better than nothing.

BandwidthAddict said:
We are machines, a frail and flawed one at that. Sometimes, we are so broken that hope is not enough.
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You don't need hope to strive for survival. Tomorrow may be better, tomorrow may be worse - but at least the present exists.

BandwidthAddict said:
To understand, respect and have compassion for their decision; that is enlightened.
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No, it's PC nonsense. I can sympathise with them, but I can never respect their decision or the legality of it.
 
Garson007 said:
I see, is a logical fallacy how you handle all arguments?

I never said that all those that oppose euthanasia are enlightened.
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I'm sorry, I still don't understand. Perhaps try using a word with a less vague and corrupted meaning.
 
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