Two decades of euthanasia law in Belgium: should it be extended?

Exactly 20 years ago, Belgium ratified the Euthanasia Act, to became the second country after the Netherlands to legalise euthanasia under certain conditions. Since then, Belgium has registered some 2,500 cases of euthanasia each year.

The euthanasia law was approved by the Chamber of Representatives on 16 May 2002 and ratified by the King on 28 May 2002. It concerns "the deliberate termination of life by another person than the person concerned, at that person's request".

Specifically, the law provides that a patient may request euthanasia when they are suffering from persistent unbearable physical or psychological suffering due to a serious and incurable illness caused by an accident or disease. The request for euthanasia must be voluntary, well-considered and repeated. A doctor is not obliged to agree to the request, but must inform the patient.

Extension

On the 20th anniversary of the Euthanasia Act, there are calls for an extension. An open letter, signed by the presidents of the associations deMens.nu, Centre d'Action Laïque, LevensEinde Informatie Forum and Association pour Le Droit de Mourir Dans La Dignité, calls on the Belgian government to work on euthanasia for people with dementia.

They are calling for a relaxation of the conditions for euthanasia in cases of incapacity, following a prior declaration of will.

"Everyone should be allowed, with the help of a health professional, to determine the modalities and context in which he or she would like to have euthanasia performed"

Other issues that come up when calling for the expansion of euthanasia are those of the very elderly who consider their lives complete and assisted suicide.

In 2021, 2,699 cases of euthanasia were registered. The majority of cases involved people aged between 60 and 89, of whom approximately 85% were terminal patients. In more than half of the cases, the euthanasia was carried out at home.

(AHU)

^{A protest by doctors of AZ Jan Palfijn hospital in Ghent, after a doctor was involved in the euthanasia of a 91-year-old patient in palliative care service, 29 November 2021 © BELGA PHOTO JONAS D'HOLLANDER}