Belgium’s meteoric rise to become euthanasia capital of the world

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It is widely acknowledged that euthanasia is out of control in Belgium: a 500% increase in cases in ten years; one third involuntary; half not reported; euthanasia for blindness, anorexia and botched sex change operations; organ transplant euthanasia; plans to extend euthanasia to children and people with dementia. 

One commentator has said that Belgium has 'leaped head-first off a moral cliff'.

Belgium's law, which came into effect in 2002, permits euthanasia for those in a ‘medically hopeless’ situation due to a serious and incurable condition caused by injury or illness, with physical and/or psychological suffering which is constant and unbearable, and cannot be mitigated.

But it is clear that in practice the boundaries are continually migrating and the nation's moral conscience is shifting year on year. Call it incremental extension, mission creep or slippery slope - whatever - it is strongly in evidence in Belgium.

Assisted suicide is treated the same as euthanasia when reported, despite its position in law being unclear.

Here is a series of articles, both on this blog and elsewhere, which chart the steps in Belgium’s meteoric rise to become euthanasia capital of the world. Much of this material has not been covered by the British media in spite of the fact that Belgium is one of our very closest European neighbours.

With the Falconer and MacDonald bills currently before the House of Lords and Scottish Parliament respectively Britain needs to take sober warning from events across the English Channel.

Terminally transsexual: Concerns raised over Belgian euthanised after botched sex change

(National Post, 22 November 2013)

Death by doctor: Controversial physician has made his name delivering euthanasia when no one else will

(National Post, 22 November 2013)

Belgium debates euthanising suffering children 
(Deutsche Welle, 22 November 2013)

Belgian Senate will vote on bill to extend euthanasia to children with disabilities on 26 November 

(Alex Schadenberg, 21 November 2013)

Belgium’s grisly descent down euthanasia’s slippery slope

(Wesley Smith, 21 November 2013)

A deadly conflict of interest: why euthanasia in Belgium is so out of control

(Tom Mortier, 20 November 2013)

Belgium moves to make euthanasia legal for children, dementia patients

(National Post, 31 October 2013)

Euthanasia and Assisted suicide - more worrying developments in Belgium and the Netherlands

(Peter Saunders, 15 August 2013)

Belgium and the Netherlands escalate their children’s euthanasia programmes

(Peter Saunders, 17 June 2013)

Stunning 5,000% increase in Belgian euthanasia cases in eleven years since legalisation

(Peter Saunders, 6 April 2013)

Belgium becomes world leader in organ removal after euthanasia as Oxford academics suggest the practice could generate 2,200 more organs a year in UK

(Peter Saunders, 16 March 2013)

Fresh warning sounded to UK as euthanasia deaths increase by 25% in Belgium in just one year

(Alex Schadenberg, 2 March 2013)

Belgian twin euthanasia story is just the tip of a chilling iceberg

(Peter Saunders, 28 January 2013)

Deaf twins killed by legal euthanasia had to search two years before they found someone who would do it

(National Post, 14 January 2013)

Euthanasia is out of control in Belgium – new ten year review

(Peter Saunders, 10 December 2012)

Euthanasia in Belgium: Ten years on 
(European Institute of Bioethics, April 2012)

Using organs from euthanasia victims now an established procedure in Brave New Belgium

(Peter Saunders, 12 June 2011)