July 4, 2022
end of life issues

Belgium debates euthanasia for minors and demented

Michael Cook

Belgium could allow euthanasia for people under 18 if new proposals by the Socialist Party are approved.

Belgium could allow euthanasia for people under 18 if new proposals by the Socialist Party are approved. The law would also allow patients with Alzheimer’s to be euthanased.

Neighbouring Netherlands already allows both categories of people to die in this fashion, although in the game of euthanasia one-upmanship Belgium has scored goals of its own: euthanasia for prisoners and euthanasia for organ donation.

“The idea is to update the law to take better account of dramatic situations and extremely harrowing cases we must find a response to,” party leader Thierry Giet explained. The bill would be extended to minors “if they are capable of discernment or affected by an incurable illness or suffering that we cannot alleviate.”

MIchael Cook
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Belgium
euthanasia

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