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Lawmakers to vote on child euthanasia law today

08:22 13/02/2014

A controversial new child euthanasia law that has made headlines around the world was heavily debated for a final time yesterday in Belgium’s parliament. If passed today, the legal right to die, already an option for adults, will also extend to the country’s sick children.

Much of the debate on Wednesday focused on the medical parameters needed to confirm the level of suffering a child endures, which will be needed in order to seek assistance to die. The legislation previously passed the Senate in December by a wide margin, and despite objections to the law it is expected to pass in the House.

Belgians over the age of 18 have been able to choose to die since 2002, a progressive move that put Belgium far ahead of much of the world, which continues to debate ethical and moral issues surrounding the practice. However, Belgium will not be the first to empower children with the same rights. Just next door, the Netherlands and Luxembourg allow euthanasia among minors. Dutch law says children between 12 and 15 must have their parents’ permission, while those aged 16 and 17 are only required to notify the parents of their choice.

Written by Andrew King