Belgium Passed Bill Allowing Child Euthanasia

Previously this year, I wrote an article on the proposal for children's euthanasia by lethal injection within Belgium. This month (13th February), the bill allowing euthanasia for terminally ill children of any age, has been passed. By a vote of 86 to 44 with 12 abstentions, the lower house of Parliament approved the law which had previously been passed by the country’s Senate. Belgium will become the only country in the world to legalise euthanasia at any age, with both patient and parental consent. There are several conditions to the law:

• Patient must be conscious when making decision 
• Request must be approved by the parent and medical team
• Illness must be terminal, with no sign of improvement 
• Patient must be in great pain with no treatment available to alleviate their distress
• Psychologists must test children to confirm they understand what they are requesting

Opponents to the new law, argue that children should not be forced to make such a difficult decision. Furthermore Belgium has palliative care, which is considered to be the best within Europe, therefore the pain and difficulties for terminally ill children should be managed without euthanasia. 

The same bill, legalising child euthanasia, would also make euthanasia legal to adults suffering with the early stages of dementia. The patient would have to write a written declaration, that they wish to be euthanised if their health deteriorates, for example someone who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Previously, anyone could write declaration to be euthanised if health deteriorates, under the circumstances of irreversible coma and the written consent to have been written within the previous five years. The new bill would abolish the time limit for the consent to be written, as well as extending the conditions to early stages of dementia, as well as an irreversible coma. 

References:

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

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/02/17/controversy-belgium-approves-child-euthanasia

http://www.patientsrightscouncil.org/site/belgium/

http://life.nationalpost.com/2013/10/31/belgium-moves-to-make-euthanasia-legal-for-children-dementia-patients/