A Belgian bill plans the extension of euthanasia to minors
Two Senators of the Flemish Socialist Party (SP.A) announced their intention of deposing a bill that would extend euthanasia to minor patients, according to the same modalities as for adults.
According to their bill, the distinction should not be established according to the age, but rather on the "capacity of discerning" which Belgian case law has generally fixed at around 10-12 years. However the distinction is very vague and elusive.
For children incapable of deciding, the euthanasia demand would be done by the parents.
Opponents of euthanasia feared, indeed, an attempt to rush through a law allowing euthanasia for patients incapable of deciding by themselves, by the secular majority in power. Municipal elections to be held in 2006 might lead to the demise of the present liberal-socialist coalition in power...
According to their bill, the distinction should not be established according to the age, but rather on the "capacity of discerning" which Belgian case law has generally fixed at around 10-12 years. However the distinction is very vague and elusive.
For children incapable of deciding, the euthanasia demand would be done by the parents.
Opponents of euthanasia feared, indeed, an attempt to rush through a law allowing euthanasia for patients incapable of deciding by themselves, by the secular majority in power. Municipal elections to be held in 2006 might lead to the demise of the present liberal-socialist coalition in power...
posted by dawnofeurope | 3:03 pm
