Controversial Bill on Euthanasia for Children in Belgium is rushed and will be voted this Thursday: an Analysis
The current euthanasia legislation showed so much shortcomings (for example the number of unreported cases on euthanasia is still quite high and more analysis you find in the link below).
Moreover, legalizing a legislation also changes a mentality. Despite of the big number of unreported cases in Belgium, there are not a lot of cases that are legally persecuted. In the Netherlands, the ChristenUnie plans to organize a hearing on euthanasia because a person was euthanized because he was afraid not be able to live without his work after his pension.
In a letter signed by 160 pediatricians signed a letter calling the Belgian Members of Parliaments not to vote for this controversial law. (see also in the analysis below)
Also the Council of Europe showed its serious concerns on the Belgian Bill on euthanasia for children as their written declaration shows
Despite of all of this, the Bill seems to be rushed through the different Chambers of the Parliament even without a throughful analysis of the current legislation and the consequences of this new legislation. The government is blind for all these concerns and may be fast-tracking the bill to stop the euthanasia debate that has led to information about how the euthanasia law is out-of control becoming known by the public.
It seems that the Christian-Democrats in the coalition do not choose for an openly resistance to this law and will loose its credibility which is not smart a few months before the next elections.
Please find a detailed analysis here about the situation concerning euthanasia in Belgium and an analysis of the proposed Bill on euthanasia for children here (also with interesting links for further information)
(Source and with approval from Alex Schadenberg)
The Belgian media is reporting that the bill to extend euthanasia to children in Belgium will likely be voted on Thursday February 13.
The Belgian government announced today that the debate on the child euthanasia bill, in the Chamber of Deputies, will occur on February 12 and the vote will likely happen the next day, but possibly on the same day of the debate.
Earlier reports suggested that the child euthanasia bill would be voted-on in May.
Why is the Belgium government fast tracking the child euthanasia bill?
The extension of euthanasia to children in Belgian is based on allowing euthanasia for children with disabilities.
The bill is being fast tracked likely because a strong opposition to the bill is developing.
Last week 38 Belgian paediatricians denounced the child euthanasia bill. The paediatricians stated that extending euthanasia to children was not necessary because:(1) Even the most complex medical cases can be solved in the current legal framework, with the means and expertise at our disposal. For whom is this legislation therefore designed?(2) Children in Belgium are not suffering. The palliative care teams for children are perfectly capable of achieving pain relief, both in hospital and at home.(3) A sensitive child may perceive the option of euthanasia as a solution or a duty, especially if the child feels that the parents can no longer bear to see him suffer.(4) In practice, there is no objective method for determining whether a child is gifted with the ability of discernment and judgment. So this is actually largely subjective and subject to other influences.
They paediatricians concluded:
We believe that there is no urgency to pass this bill in the current legislature.
Last week, a large number of the European Parliament members signed a Declaration opposing the euthanasia for children in Belgium.
The Declaration states that extending euthanasia to children:
(1) betrays some of the most vulnerable children in Belgium by accepting that their lives may no longer have any inherent value or worth and that they should die;(2) mistakenly assumes that children are able give appropriate informed consent to euthanasia and that they can understand the grave meaning and complex consequences associated with such a decision;(3) promotes the unacceptable belief that a life can be unworthy of life which challenges the very basis of civilised society.
A few weeks ago, a large protest was held in Brussels opposing the extension of euthanasia to children.
Last November I debated, a long time Belgian euthanasia promoter in Brussels. I spoke about instances of abuse of the Belgian euthanasia law and I quoted several Belgian studies proving that in Belgium:
(1) euthanasia is widely under-reported;(2) euthanasia is often done without an explicit request;(3) and nurses are lethally injecting patients, even though the law does not permit it.
The euthanasia promoter reacted to the facts by admitting that there are problems with the Belgian euthanasia law. This is cold comfort to those who are dead.
Opposition
to the Belgian child euthanasia bill is building. The government may be
fast-tracking the bill to stop the euthanasia debate that has led to
information about how the euthanasia law is out-of control becoming
known by the public.
The
Belgian government needs to come clean with the facts concerning the
current practice of euthanasia and it needs to reject the extension of
lethal injections to children.
Links to other articles:
• Belgium euthanasia promoter admits there are problems with euthanasia in Belgium.
• Belgian Senate to vote on bill to extend euthanasia to children with disabilities.
• Belgian Senate to vote on bill to extend euthanasia to children with disabilities.
Comments
Post a Comment