Children and euthanasia: Belgium's controversial new law

Abstract

On February 13, 2014 Belgium amended its law to extend the right to request euthanasia to terminally ill children. Despite strong opposition from some medical professionals and religious groups the law was passed on a vote of 86 to 44 (with 12 abstentions). Out of the three European countries that permit voluntary euthanasia Belgium has become the first to remove all reference to an age restriction. In the Netherlands, by comparison, children must be over the age of 12 whereas similar laws in Luxembourg apply only to adults.