A Child Who Battled Terminal Disease Becomes First Minor To Die By Mercy Killing in Belgium


A child who was terminally ill  has become the first child in Belgium to be euthanised since age restrictions on such doctor-assisted dying in the country were lifted in 2014.The change was made in Belgian law in 2014 after a heated debate to offer the possibility of euthanasia to children "in a hopeless medical situation of constant and unbearable suffering that cannot be eased and which will cause death in the short term.”

In the week that was, the head of the national committee for euthanasia confirmed the first case was reported to him by a local doctor though he would not give any details about the minor, he described it as an exceptional case of a child with a terminal illness.

Belgium is the only country that allows minors of any age to choose euthanasia. In any case,they must be able to prove they have a rational decision-making capacity and be in the final stages of the said terminal illness.

In 10 years (Between 2003 and 2013), the number of patients being euthanised in Belgium rose nearly eight-fold to a total number of 8,752 cases, according to records of the national euthanasia control committee.

 The Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia and Luxembourg allow euthanasia.

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