A 17 yr old granted euthanasia in Belgium
A 17-year-old has ended their life through doctor-assisted suicide in Belgium, the head of the National Committee for Euthanasia said.
The 17-year-old is the first minor to do so under rules adopted in 2014 allowing voluntary euthanasia for people of all age.
Wim Distelmans, who chairs Belgium’s Federal Control and Evaluation Committee on Euthanasia, said the minor was 17 and a local doctor had reported the case to his committee last week, but he gave no other details.
Belgium legalised euthanasia in 2002 and two years ago amended the rules to permit doctor-assisted death for minors in a hopeless medical situation and with their explicit consent.
It is the only country in the world that allows euthanasia for minors of all ages.
In the neighbouring Netherlands the practice is legal for children aged 12 or over.
Mr Distelmans said in an emailed statement the Belgian law defined euthanasia very strictly.
Minors must be conscious and able to make rational decisions when they request assisted death.
Psychologists or psychiatrists must be consulted and the parents must give their permission.
In the 10 years to 2013, the number of euthanasia cases in Belgium rose from about 1,000 to 8,752, according to official records.
Euthanasia has always been a controversial subject, but Belgium is so far the only country that allows children of any age to be euthanized if suffering from a terminal disease.
Source: ABC News
