Belgium’s federal parliament is close to introducing a “right to die” for sick children, according to reports in a Belgian newspaper.
Euthanasia in Belgium
Der Morgen has said that a consensus is forming around proposed legislation which would allow children, whose situation is deemed dire enough, to opt for euthanasia.
Euthanasia is already legal in Belgium. A law legalising the practice was introduced in 2002 but restricted it to people aged 18 or over.
If the law passes, Belgium would become the first country to legalise euthanasia for children.
Bill
The bill was introduced in December by the Socialist Party. It would lay out guidelines for doctors to assess on a case by case basis whether a child is mature enough to make the decision to end their life and whether the child’s illness is serious enough to warrant euthanasia.
Leader of the Socialist party, Thierry Giet, said: “The idea is to update the law to take better account of dramatic situations and extremely harrowing cases we must find a response to.”
Opposition
Catholic clergy and members of the Christian Democrats party have strongly opposed the bill.
Belgian Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard said: “We expressed our strong reservations regarding the decriminalization of euthanasia as early as 2002.
“First and foremost because we have excellent palliative care available today, and because we can rely on sedation, to the extent strictly necessary.”
The Belgian Senate’s Committee on Social Affairs is likely to consider the bill. This follows months of testimony from medical professionals, clergy and others.
If the legislation passes, it would mean that under-18s would be able to choose to die whilst being legally barred from drinking liquor, marrying, voting and driving.
The legislation would also likely allow euthanasia for people with Alzheimer’s and other conditions leading to advanced dementia, who would otherwise be deemed incompetent to make the decision to die.
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