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End of life (Belgium)
Euthanasia, 20 years later
Author / Source : L. Vanbellingen Published on : Thematic : End of life Files Temps de lecture : 11 min.
On 28 May 2002, Belgium became the second country to decriminalise euthanasia, i.e. the act of "intentionally ending a person's life at the latter's request" because of his state of health. After twenty years of applying the Belgian law on euthanasia, and given the current critical debates on the subject, it is essential to take stock of the practice of euthanasia in Belgium and draw some perspectives on its recent and future developments.
Euthanasia of minors in Belgium
Author / Source : Jean-Paul Van De Walle Published on : Thematic : End of life Files Temps de lecture : 13 min.
On 28 February 2014 a law was enacted "amending the Act of 28 May 2002 on euthanasia in order to extend it to minors"1. Belgium thus became the first and only country to authorise euthanasia of minors without specifying that any conditions with respect to their age should be met. Some people welcomed it, underlining the "pioneering" role Belgium played in establishing a legal framework for euthanasia, which was presented as the ultimate "humanitarian act" of which any patient, major or...
Does the Belgian model of integrated palliative care distort palliative care practice?
Author / Source : Raphaëlle d'Yvoire Published on : Thematic : End of life Files Temps de lecture : 25 min.
The purpose of this report is to describe the Belgian model of end of life care that, since 2002, has aimed at developing "palliative care for all", while nonetheless authorizing the practice of euthanasia under certain conditions. The thirteen years since the passage of this decree have culminated in a clash between two opinions: * one affirms that the decriminalization of euthanasia has truly enabled the development of continuous, palliative care; * the other, conversely, stresses that ...
Euthanasia in Belgium : 10 years on
Author / Source : EIB Published on : Thematic : End of life Files Temps de lecture : 22 min.
May 28, 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the legalisation of euthanasia in Belgium, with the Netherlands following suit a year earlier and Luxembourg doing the same in 2009 6. To date, these three Benelux countries are the only ones to have legalised the act of intentionally killing a person who makes such a request. At a time when legalisation of euthanasia is being debated in several European countries, notably in France, it would appear appropriate to take stock of the last 10 years of ...