Minor receives euthanasia for the first time in Belgium

A minor passed away at the weekend in Belgium's first case of death by euthanasia of an under-18-year-old, writes Het Nieuwsblad. The death comes two and a half years after parliament voted in favour of extending euthanasia to terminally ill minors who are capable of making the decision.

The minor was suffering from a terminal illness and the request for euthanasia was filed in Dutch, suggesting that it was carried out in Flanders, according to professor Wim Distelmans, chairman of the federal control and evaluation commission for euthanasia. No other details about the case were communicated to the press.

Belgium is the only country in the world where euthanasia is available to minors, despite fierce criticism from home and abroad.