Belgian doctors open discussion of involuntary euthanasia
March 20, 2014
Some doctors in Belgium have suggested discussion of legalizing euthanasia without requiring the consent of the patient.
Euthanasia is already legal in Belgium; last year 1,432 people were put to death by their doctors, at the patients’ request. In February the government extended legal euthanasia by allowing children to opt for mercy killing.
The current law, however, requires patients to make an informed choice to end their own lives. Doctors now suggest that they should be able to make that decision for patients who are unable to express themselves, whether or not they are suffering.
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Posted by: AnthonyP -
Mar. 22, 2014 1:24 PM ET USA
In February this site wrote, regarding Belgium's legal approval of Pediatric Euthanasia,: "The bishops expressed fears that the new law would “open wide the door to a future extension [of euthanasia] to handicapped persons, people with dementia, those who are mentally ill, even those who are tired of living.” THAT didn't take long. This from the children and grandchildren of the doctors who were put to death by the Nazis for failing to do this very thing. How soon we forget. Amazing.
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Posted by: garedawg -
Mar. 21, 2014 10:58 AM ET USA
Looks like I'll be putting Belgium at the bottom of the list of places to retire to.
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Posted by: [email protected] -
Mar. 20, 2014 8:12 PM ET USA
What a slippery slope we are on. This will be coming to the United States and the rest of Europe. It is a creeping disease under the culture of death.
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Posted by: rpp -
Mar. 20, 2014 5:13 PM ET USA
So they want to be able to kill grandma and little Suzy because they are "too" old or sick, yet executing a convicted murderer is against the law? That is some interesting logic.
