[ShepherdsDog]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/child-euth ... -1.2463731

$1:

Belgium's Senate has strongly supported legislation that would extend the country's euthanasia law to children under certain conditions.

Senators on Thursday voted 50-17 in favour of the proposed law. If adopted, it will decriminalize euthanasia for children, if they are in great pain, suffer from a terminal condition and are expected to die soon. The children would have to submit a written request to be euthanized, and be aware of what their request meant. No age limit would be set, but the children would have "to possess the capacity of discernment."

Their parents or legal representatives also would have to support the request in writing.

This ought to stir some controversy. Wasn`t sure if it should be posted here or in the ethics section.

[DanSC]

I liked Belgium more when they didn't have a government.

[sandorski]

This is a reasonable law.

[Brenda]

It's not like anyone can just go to a dr and tell them 'I want to die' and the doctor helps them out. Which is what people seem to think.

We treat our animals more humane than ourselves.

[Brenda]

DanSC DanSC:

I liked Belgium more when they didn't have a government.

Really now.

[DanSC]

When they didn't have a government, they weren't passing laws that assumed children had the maturity to legally consent to their own death.

[Brenda]

DanSC DanSC:

When they didn't have a government, they weren't passing laws that assumed children had the maturity to legally consent to their own death.

Sure, because children deserve to suffer because they are too stupid, right?

Again, it is not like a 5 year old can go to a doctor and say 'I wanna die'.

[CanadianJeff]

DanSC DanSC:

When they didn't have a government, they weren't passing laws that assumed children had the maturity to legally consent to their own death.

You may want to actually read the very short snippet at the top that makes it clear parents or Guardians also have to consent.

You need better glasses

[DanSC]

I read that, doesn't change my feelings on the law.

I know many physicians, and I know their opinion of extreme life-saving measures is far different from the general public, but I also know none of them would avoid using extreme life saving measures to save a child.

[Brenda]

And you are also not West-European, and I can tell you, that makes a LOT of difference.

[ShepherdsDog]

yeah....we learned to stop butchering each other every two generations.....must have been something in the water

[Brenda]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

yeah....we learned to stop butchering each other every two generations.....must have been something in the water

Right. Because the US military is AWESOME at looking after their own. LMAO!!!

Let kids suffer the last few days of their lives, THAT makes sense.
If you see your pets as your children and you are more humane with them, something is wrong.

[Brenda]

DanSC DanSC:

I read that, doesn't change my feelings on the law.

I know many physicians, and I know their opinion of extreme life-saving measures is far different from the general public, but I also know none of them would avoid using extreme life saving measures to save a child.

The difference is, they CANNOT save those children. The children meant here are children who are going to die, regardless.

[Xort]

Keeping people, even children that are in great pain alive without a reasonable chance of curing them or removing the pain in a timely manner is immoral and cruel.

[Freakinoldguy]

This is reasonable but you've got to remember that this same argument was used to justify Eugenics in America and ultimately euthanasia in Germany where the parents were either tricked into or willingly became accomplices.

So, if this form of euthanasia is monitored and regulated to maximum by physicians, parents and an outside agency with no vested interest it should work as intended to relieve the pain and suffering of these children.

But, given human nature and economics I can see this law evolving into something much more sinister and having it end up euthanizing people who have become more of burden than as a relief for their actual suffering.