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| Belgium minor first to be granted euthanasia | Belgium minor first to be granted euthanasia |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A terminally ill 17-year-old has become the first minor to be helped to die in Belgium since age restrictions on euthanasia requests were removed two years ago, officials say. | |
| The head of the federal euthanasia commission said the teenager was "suffering unbearable physical pain". | The head of the federal euthanasia commission said the teenager was "suffering unbearable physical pain". |
| Belgium is the only country that allows minors of any age to choose euthanasia. | Belgium is the only country that allows minors of any age to choose euthanasia. |
| They must have rational decision-making capacity and be in the final stages of a terminal illness. | They must have rational decision-making capacity and be in the final stages of a terminal illness. |
| The parents of those under 18 must also give their consent. | |
| Euthanasia commission head Wim Distelmans said the teenager was "nearly 18". He said doctors used "palliative sedation", which involves putting patients into an induced coma, as part of the process, | |
| Assisted dying around the world | Assisted dying around the world |
| Belgian Paralympian 'not ready' for euthanasia | Belgian Paralympian 'not ready' for euthanasia |
| "Fortunately there are very few children who are considered [for euthanasia] but that does not mean we should refuse them the right to a dignified death," he told the Het Nieuwsblad newspaper. | "Fortunately there are very few children who are considered [for euthanasia] but that does not mean we should refuse them the right to a dignified death," he told the Het Nieuwsblad newspaper. |
| Mr Distelmans told Reuters news agency the case had been reported to his committee by a local doctor last week. | Mr Distelmans told Reuters news agency the case had been reported to his committee by a local doctor last week. |
| The case occurred in Flemish-speaking Belgium, reports RTBF (in French), the public broadcaster for Belgium's French-speaking community. | The case occurred in Flemish-speaking Belgium, reports RTBF (in French), the public broadcaster for Belgium's French-speaking community. |
| The Netherlands also allows euthanasia for minors, but they must be aged over 12 years old. | The Netherlands also allows euthanasia for minors, but they must be aged over 12 years old. |
| Belgium lifted the age restrictions in 2014. The law passed by parliament said the child would have to be terminally ill, face "unbearable physical suffering" and make repeated requests to die before euthanasia is considered. | Belgium lifted the age restrictions in 2014. The law passed by parliament said the child would have to be terminally ill, face "unbearable physical suffering" and make repeated requests to die before euthanasia is considered. |
| Many people, including church leaders and some paediatricians, questioned whether children would be able to make such a difficult choice. | Many people, including church leaders and some paediatricians, questioned whether children would be able to make such a difficult choice. |
| Senator Jean-Jacques De Gucht said he was proud the legislation had passed. | Senator Jean-Jacques De Gucht said he was proud the legislation had passed. |
| He said having the possibility to ask about euthanasia "makes a big difference to many people". | He said having the possibility to ask about euthanasia "makes a big difference to many people". |
| Where is assisted dying permitted? | Where is assisted dying permitted? |
| How old must the patient be? | How old must the patient be? |
| Only the Netherlands and Belgium permit euthanasia for patients under the age of 18. | Only the Netherlands and Belgium permit euthanasia for patients under the age of 18. |
| In the Netherlands, a competent patient between the ages of 16 and 18 may request euthanasia or assisted suicide. The parent or guardian does not have a veto, but must be consulted. Competent patients aged between 12 and 16 may also qualify, but only if their parent or guardian consents. | In the Netherlands, a competent patient between the ages of 16 and 18 may request euthanasia or assisted suicide. The parent or guardian does not have a veto, but must be consulted. Competent patients aged between 12 and 16 may also qualify, but only if their parent or guardian consents. |
| In Belgium, a competent patient under the age of 18 may request euthanasia with parental consent. Additional scrutiny of the child's competence is required, and suffering based on a psychiatric disorder is excluded. | In Belgium, a competent patient under the age of 18 may request euthanasia with parental consent. Additional scrutiny of the child's competence is required, and suffering based on a psychiatric disorder is excluded. |
| How many people take this option? | How many people take this option? |
| The rate of euthanasia in the Netherlands has remained fairly stable at 2.8% of all deaths (in 2010), according to Penney Lewis, Professor of Law at King's College London. | The rate of euthanasia in the Netherlands has remained fairly stable at 2.8% of all deaths (in 2010), according to Penney Lewis, Professor of Law at King's College London. |
| The most recent survey of doctors in the UK was in 2007-08. The rate of euthanasia was reported to be 0.21% of all deaths, and a similar rate has been reported in France (in 2009), even though euthanasia remains illegal in both countries. | The most recent survey of doctors in the UK was in 2007-08. The rate of euthanasia was reported to be 0.21% of all deaths, and a similar rate has been reported in France (in 2009), even though euthanasia remains illegal in both countries. |
| In contrast, research carried out in Flanders, Belgium found the rate prior to legalisation was unclear, with separate surveys reporting rates of 0.3% of all deaths in the region (in 2001-02) and 1.1% (in 1998). The rate has risen steadily since legalisation in 2002 to 4.6% of all deaths in the most recent survey in 2013. | In contrast, research carried out in Flanders, Belgium found the rate prior to legalisation was unclear, with separate surveys reporting rates of 0.3% of all deaths in the region (in 2001-02) and 1.1% (in 1998). The rate has risen steadily since legalisation in 2002 to 4.6% of all deaths in the most recent survey in 2013. |
| What do the different terms mean? | What do the different terms mean? |
| Euthanasia is an intervention undertaken with the intention of ending a life to relieve suffering, for example a lethal injection administered by a doctor | Euthanasia is an intervention undertaken with the intention of ending a life to relieve suffering, for example a lethal injection administered by a doctor |
| Assisted suicide is any act that intentionally helps another person kill themselves, for example by providing them with the means to do so, most commonly by prescribing a lethal medication | Assisted suicide is any act that intentionally helps another person kill themselves, for example by providing them with the means to do so, most commonly by prescribing a lethal medication |
| Assisted dying is usually used in the US and the UK to mean assisted suicide for the terminally ill only, as for example in the Assisted Dying Bills recently debated in the UK | Assisted dying is usually used in the US and the UK to mean assisted suicide for the terminally ill only, as for example in the Assisted Dying Bills recently debated in the UK |