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On June 21, four senators — two socialists and two liberals, from both Francophone and Flemish parties — are to present four amendments to the 2002 law on euthanasia to the Belgian Senate.
The amendments, which have been drafted during the course of four months of debate in parliament, seek to extend existing legislation to make euthanasia an option in cases where patients are children. They will be backed by the four parties represented by the senators, but not by two other parties in the ruling majority: the Christian Democratic and Flemish party and its Francophone counterpart.
Discussions will focus on circumstances in which euthanasia is suitable for children: a possible stipulation of a minimum age (age 12, 15 and 16 have all been cited), the need for parental authorisation and the role of medical opinion.
The question of a further extension of the law to include patients with degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s will also be on the agenda for discussion.
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