Guest Guest66881 Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Brussels (AFP) - A heated debate on proposals to legalise euthanasia for minors in Belgium, one of the few countries to allow it for adults, intensified on Wednesday with supporters and opponents pressing their case. Proposed legislation would allow the euthanasia of minors so long as they are judged capable of deciding for themselves -- a move favoured by three quarters of Belgians, according to a recent opinion poll. One Wednesday, 16 paediatricians called on lawmakers to vote for a practice some experts say already happens outside the law. "Why deprive minors of this last possibility," they said in an open letter carried in the press, arguing that under-18s were able to make an informed and mature decision when facing death. http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/19718614/row-over-euthanasia-for-minors-intensifies-in-belgium/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pob Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 With a doctors approval, sure. No point anyone or anything being in pain and just waiting to die, or just living a life to stay alive and not actually seeing life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peach Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 If there is no hope... surely there has to be a better option than suffering? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maruska Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 If there is no hope... surely there has to be a better option than suffering? There is, it`s called supportive/palliative care. Means no treatment of disease as such but comfort oriented only - pain management etc. In case the patient becomes unable to make own decisions, the legal next of kin is the one who makes the decision for him. There were several times during my pediatric ICU experience that we offered a withdrawal of support to the parents - meaning that the child will be disconnected from the ventilator and won`t be given drugs to maintain blood pressure ( in cases where it was clear that the brain function is damaged beyond repair). This doesn`t qualify as euthanasia in the US. Young children don`t have a concept of death and don`t understand it. The parent should be the child`s advocate in that case and decide what`s the best thing to do for the child IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Good call Maruska. In my years of palliative experience, I stay neutral these days on the euthanasia debate. Good pall care should mean that terminal sedation is available in the case of intractable distress due to symptoms. In reality those who truly suffer and make us uncomfortable in our ability to palliate are thankfully few and far between and then sedation is appropriate. If I had to choose Id say no to euthanasia but appreciate it is an emotive topic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpo1971 Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 I think its insane that you or your loved ones don't have the option to end your life. We're supposed to be civilised. I don't see any problem in providing that option to anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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