
A terminally ill youngster been euthanised in Belgium – the first since Parliament lifted all age restrictions in 2014. The head of the Federal Control and Evaluation Committee on Euthanasia, Dr Wim Distelmans, confirmed that the case had been reported by a local doctor last week.
While details were not disclosed, even the age, he described it as an exceptional case of a child with a terminal illness living in the Flemish-speaking section of Belgium. "Fortunately there are very few children who are considered (for euthanasia) but that does not mean we should refuse them the right to a dignified death," he told the Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad today.
Belgium is the only country that allows all minors of any age to opt for euthanasia. They need only prove that they have a rational decision-making capacity and be in the final stages of a terminal illness.
After a heated debate Belgium amended its euthanasia law in 2014 to include children of any age "in a hopeless medical situation of constant and unbearable suffering that cannot be eased and which will cause death in the short term." The parents must give their approval, as well. Neighbouring Netherlands allows euthanasia for people as young as 12.

This article is published by
Michael Cook
and BioEdge under a Creative Commons licence. You may republish it or translate it free of charge with attribution for non-commercial purposes following
these guidelines. If you teach at a university we ask that your department make a donation. Commercial media must
contact us for permission and fees. Some articles on this site are published under different terms.