
Only 2 children euthanised in 3 years in Belgium
Head of euthanasia commission releases statistics
The news that the Belgian parliament had legalised euthanasia for children under 18 made news around the world in 2014. But what has actually happened since then?
According to the chairman of the Belgian euthanasia commission, Dr Wim Distelmans, only two children have been euthanised, both in or after 2016. “The situation is similar to the situation in the Netherlands, where five cases have been recorded in ten years,” he says. “We have only had two cases in three years.”
“We knew that there wouldn’t be many,” says Professor Distelmans. “Some 100,000 adults die every year in Belgium for every 1,000 minors. When it is known that 2,000 deaths in adults are the result of euthanasia, there couldn’t be many among minors. Children can only apply when they are terminally ill, while euthanasia is possible for adults even if they aren’t terminally ill patients.”
Creative commons
https://www.bioedge.org/images/2008images/FB_teddy_bear.jpg
belgium
child euthanasia
euthanasia
- How long can you put off seeing the doctor because of lockdowns? - December 3, 2021
- House of Lords debates assisted suicide—again - October 28, 2021
- Spanish government tries to restrict conscientious objection - October 28, 2021
More Stories
Last Australian state finally launches ‘assisted dying’
As of November 28, eligible people in New South Wales can request “voluntary assisted dying”. NSW was the last Australian...
Al-Jazeera investigates euthanasia in Canada
Most people are completely ignorant of how radical Canada's right-to-die legislation has become. This documentary from Al-Jazeera exposes the incredible...
One way to escape malpractice lawsuits: euthanise the patient
A French woman who was suffering agonies after doctors implanted vaginal mesh has died of euthanasia in Belgium. In 2019...
Dutch voters support assisted suicide for ‘completed lives’
The results of professional opinion polls on social issues have to be taken with a pinch of salt, unless they...
One in 25 deaths in Canada last year was due to euthanasia
In 2022, 13,241 Canadians died through Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) – 4.1% of all deaths. Since euthanasia and assisted...
Another jurisdiction in Australia set to legalise ‘assisted dying’
The Australian Capital Territory, where the nation’s capital Canberra is located, is a self-governing jurisdiction with about 460,000 people. It...