Belgium allows euthanasia for children

Davey Jones

Davey Jones

Well-known Member
Location
Florida
Well....this is something new,I dont know if Im for or against this.

Belgium has extended the country's euthanasia law to allow terminally ill people under the age of 18 the right to die.

The lower house of the Belgian parliament on Thursday approved the extension by a large majority. The country already allows people aged 18 or older to decide to end their lives.

Under the new law children need to meet certain conditions to be allowed to die.

They must be in a state of unbearable suffering and found by a psychiatrist or psychologist to be aware of what their choice signifies. Also, parents and a team of doctors must approve of the child's decision.


http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140214_08.html
 
I'm for voluntary euthanasia for adults but I'm with the pediatricions on this one. They know how and when to ease a child's passing without stressing them with questions they don't need to think about. Drop it back to 14/15 maybe, but younger than that? Don't see the necessity.
 
Putting down a mere animal is different to putting down a human. However, whilst I think ALL have the right to die if they so desire should they be terminally ill, a person has to be able to give informed consent, and a young child can't do that.
 
It's a difficult decision, yes, but no less difficult than watching your child suffer without hope of getting any better. It gets to the point where you want them to live for YOUR sake, not for theirs.

I think it's a sad but necessary law.
 
SifuPhil said:
It's a difficult decision, yes, but no less difficult than watching your child suffer without hope of getting any better. It gets to the point where you want them to live for YOUR sake, not for theirs.

I think it's a sad but necessary law.
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It would be the hardest choice ever, to have to choose to do this with your child, or any loved one , for that matter; but I agree that allowing them to live and suffer in order to alleviate your own grief, is not the right answer , either.
Sometimes, we have to let them go,when life has nothing but pain or darkness to offer.

As long as it is the parent, with the help of the doctors, who make this decision for a child who is unable to understand; I agree totally with Phil, it is a sad, but necessary, choice.
 
This isn't that new if we believe abortion is killing babies, most of which I would think are healthy. Don't want to start a brawl, just saying. And just so anyone reading knows, I had an abortion in my 20's so I'm no squeeky clean "put others down" type. Kind of hard to look down on anyone when I'm already in the gutter. Denise
 
Oh, and to address the euthenasia, I actually believe I would be for that if I was to get to vote. I don't know, it's so hard to think about it brings tears to my eyes. The suffering in this world.
 
This is a tough one. I am completely for the right of any adult to choose euthanasia when their medical condition and pain are too much to bear. It's harder to agree in regards to children, as they are to young to make an informed decision about ending their lives, and must rely on the fair judgment of the parents and doctors.

Having said that, I've known of children who are completely mentally and physically disabled. They spend their entire lives is special wheelchairs, and are never able to understand anything going on around them, or do anything whatsoever for themselves. In extreme cases like this, I think it may be kind to let the child go, and have some relief from the pain and some peace. But if I was the parent, I'm not sure I could do it, I can't even imagine the feelings of parents in these cases, I feel very sad just thinking about it. I guess I would agree with Phil also, that it is a sad but needed law.
 
SifuPhil said:
It's a difficult decision, yes, but no less difficult than watching your child suffer without hope of getting any better. It gets to the point where you want them to live for YOUR sake, not for theirs.

I think it's a sad but necessary law.
Click to expand...

I agree and also see furthering life beyond endurance or common sense is done for purely selfish reasons. But good doctors usually get around that without the need for too much paperwork or stress to the patient. From what I've read of it it still comes down to the wishes of the parents ultimately so I just miss the point of it a bit.

When Mum was in extremis, pneumonia was choking her and her kidneys had shut down and she was incoherent and gasping although not in great pain. There was no way back for her, just slow strangulation from her lungs up. Nothing was said. A raised eyebrow from the Dr and a slow blink and nod from me was all that was necessary to end her suffering peacefully. She would have had no benefit whatever from being allowed to struggle a few more hours like that. I hope someone will do the same for me. And I'm sure they'd do it for a helpless suffering child, law or no law.
 
Since Belgium allows their citizens over the age of 18 the right to die when they are suffering with a terminal illness and there is no more quality to their lives. It doesn't surprise me they wish to afford their younger citizens the same rights. With the numerous conditions that are required - (They must be in a state of unbearable suffering and found by a psychiatrist or psychologist to be aware of what their choice signifies. Also, parents and a team of doctors must approve of the child's decision.) Belgium does not take euthanasia lightly.

I wish we had those same laws here in the USA. My own mother was suffering & terminal. She lingered in unbearable pain for so long. Then without letting anyone know, she took her own life. Her suicide was extremely difficult for family to deal with. I wish it could have been done properly & painlessly for her by a doctor. She wasn't that knowledgeable & made her last day horrific.
 
SeaBreeze said:
This is a tough one. I am completely for the right of any adult to choose euthanasia when their medical condition and pain are too much to bear. It's harder to agree in regards to children, as they are to young to make an informed decision about ending their lives, and must rely on the fair judgment of the parents and doctors.

Having said that, I've known of children who are completely mentally and physically disabled. They spend their entire lives is special wheelchairs, and are never able to understand anything going on around them, or do anything whatsoever for themselves. In extreme cases like this, I think it may be kind to let the child go, and have some relief from the pain and some peace. But if I was the parent, I'm not sure I could do it, I can't even imagine the feelings of parents in these cases, I feel very sad just thinking about it. I guess I would agree with Phil also, that it is a sad but needed law.
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The Belgian law would not apply to children who are completely mentally and physically disabled.
It is not about relieving the suffering of the parents, only the child's.

The child must be aware of the significance of what they are asking for and the parents must agree. It cannot apply if the child is unconscious either. The Belgian law does not have a lower age limit.

Listening to a couple of people talking a couple of days ago, doctors already relieve end of life pain and suffering of children but it is not a formalised process. It is one thing to hasten death with medication but a completely different thing to deliver death as a pre-emptive act. I lean towards trusting the doctors to help ease the passage when the time is right.
 
Warrigal said:
The Belgian law would not apply to children who are completely mentally and physically disabled.
It is not about relieving the suffering of the parents, only the child's.
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Then what would be the point? To end the life of a child who is NOT completely disabled? I'm confused ...

The child must be aware of the significance of what they are asking for and the parents must agree. It cannot apply if the child is unconscious either. The Belgian law does not have a lower age limit.
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There I think is the fly in the ointment. At what age does a child become self-aware and able to grasp the very adult concept of death? Would it not be different for every child? Pshrinks make the decision? Well, they've been known to be wrong more than right ...

Listening to a couple of people talking a couple of days ago, doctors already relieve end of life pain and suffering of children but it is not a formalised process. It is one thing to hasten death with medication but a completely different thing to deliver death as a pre-emptive act. I lean towards trusting the doctors to help ease the passage when the time is right.
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For the actual act of terminating that life, yes, I agree. It's just the politics and mental anguish involved in getting to that point.
 
There I think is the fly in the ointment. At what age does a child become self-aware and able to grasp the very adult concept of death? Would it not be different for every child? Pshrinks make the decision? Well, they've been known to be wrong more than right ...
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Some children learn the realities of death earlier than most. I'm thinking of children with various cancers, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy among others. These children spend a lot of time in hospitals and get to know other sufferers personally. Some have siblings with the same condition. They watch each other's progress and know when one of their mates has died. Often they attend the funerals. Quite early they understand what is ahead of them and often it is the child that tells the parents that their time has come. They comfort the parents and help them to let go.

I have no doubt that children with these diseases are very self aware.
 
Warrigal said:
Some children learn the realities of death earlier than most. I'm thinking of children with various cancers, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy among others. These children spend a lot of time in hospitals and get to know other sufferers personally. Some have siblings with the same condition. They watch each other's progress and know when one of their mates has died. Often they attend the funerals. Quite early they understand what is ahead of them and often it is the child that tells the parents that their time has come. They comfort the parents and help them to let go.

I have no doubt that children with these diseases are very self aware.
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I agree.

But what of those in a vegetative state? How could you get them to express their desires? It's a relatively easy call to make when you have a high-functioning child - what of the low-functioning ones?
 
All I have been saying is that the Belgian law does not address that situation.

If anyone is in a vegetative state they are in reality brain dead.
All that has to happen is to turn off life support machines.
 
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