Lewis
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- Aug 5, 2005
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Belgium: Lawmakers vote for children's 'right to die' euthanasia law
Full story in this CNN link
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/13/world/europe/belgium-euthanasia-law-children/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
Does a terminally ill child in intolerable pain have a right to die? Belgian lawmakers said yes.
The lower house of the Belgian Parliament adopted a bill that extends the right to euthanasia for minors, the Parliament said Thursday on its official Twitter account. The law passed 86 to 44 with 12 abstentions.
That followed a vote by the country's Senate in December supporting the measure. The next step would see the bill go to the king, Philippe, to be signed into law.
The euthanasia bill is widely supported -- but has stoked fierce opposition from critics.
Belgium legalized euthanasia in 2002 for those in "constant and unbearable physical or mental suffering that cannot be alleviated." Minors were included in the original proposals but were left out of the final legislation for political reasons.
The new bill would extend the "right to die" to those under the age of 18 only under certain strict conditions, including that the child is judged able to understand what euthanasia means. Consent of parents or guardians must also be given.
Full story in this CNN link
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/13/world/europe/belgium-euthanasia-law-children/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
Does a terminally ill child in intolerable pain have a right to die? Belgian lawmakers said yes.
The lower house of the Belgian Parliament adopted a bill that extends the right to euthanasia for minors, the Parliament said Thursday on its official Twitter account. The law passed 86 to 44 with 12 abstentions.
That followed a vote by the country's Senate in December supporting the measure. The next step would see the bill go to the king, Philippe, to be signed into law.
The euthanasia bill is widely supported -- but has stoked fierce opposition from critics.
Belgium legalized euthanasia in 2002 for those in "constant and unbearable physical or mental suffering that cannot be alleviated." Minors were included in the original proposals but were left out of the final legislation for political reasons.
The new bill would extend the "right to die" to those under the age of 18 only under certain strict conditions, including that the child is judged able to understand what euthanasia means. Consent of parents or guardians must also be given.
