Two European countries are considering or just passed laws that would extend the “right-to-die” to gravely ill children.
Now, in the Netherlands, parents who cannot bear to watch the suffering of their dying child can have doctors administer muscle relaxants that will bring on death quicker, the Dutch Press reported (via Google Translate).
The
Netherlands now has guidelines for doctors to deal with euthanasia of
some children and Belgium is considering similar legislation. (Photo:
Shutterstock.com)
The
decision was made last week by the Royal Dutch Medical Association,
applying to newborns with conditions so severe that no further medical
treatment is being pursued and who have been taken off ventilator
support.
“Most
children then die quickly, but some will remain [alive for a time] and
suffering. Once a doctor administering muscle relaxants, however, the
baby dies within minutes,” the Dutch Press stated.
