Belgium legalises euthanasia for children

Brussels

Belgium has become the first country in the world to legalise euthanasia for children of any age. Children will now be able to request that their doctors kill them by lethal injection if they become terminally ill - even though they are still considered insufficiently mature to buy alcohol, cigarettes, vote, marry or drive a car.

The measure was approved in Belgium's Chamber of Representatives with 86 lawmakers voting in favour. 44 voted against. There were 12 abstentions. The measure was approved by the Senate, the upper chamber, in December.

According to opinion surveys, euthanasia for children has popular support, with some polls showing up to 75 per cent in favour. Those supporting child euthanasia for terminally-ill children said it would relieve their suffering.

The Bill was vigorously opposed by the Catholic Church and by Muslim and Jewish leaders. In an open letter 160 leading Belgian paediatricians argued that modern medicine is capable of relieving the pain of even the most sick children and said the measure was "unnecessary and dangerous."

The doctors also said there was no objective way of providing that children possess the 'discernment' to know what euthanasia means.

Campaigners opposed to the bill held street protests and prayer vigils.

King Philippe, Belgium's constitutional head of state, will have to sign the legislation for it to go into effect.

Mgr Andre Leonard, the Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and chairman of the Episcopal Conference of Belgium said: "We are opening a door that nobody will be able to close.
'There is a risk of very serious consequences in the long term for society and the meaning we give to life, death and the freedom of human beings."

Besides Belgium, the only other countries to have legalised euthanasia are the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland and in the US states of Washington, Oregon, Vermont and Montana.

In the Netherlands, children between 12 and 15 may be euthanized with parents' permission, while those who are 16 or 17 must notify their parents beforehand. Luxembourg limits the practice to legal adults 18 and older.