Belgium: Euthanasia for children gets parliament's approval

, Feb 14: The Belgian parliament has passed a bill allowing

for

who are terminally ill without any age limit. While 86 people have voted in favour of the bill, 44 have voted against and 12 have abstained. The Senate had approved the measure in December last year.

Once the bill gets signed by King Philippe, Belgium will become the first country in the world to remove age limit on the practice.

Children who are terminally ill and are suffering a great deal can request for the right to die and should also have parental consent.

Belgium is the first country to remove age limit on the practice

In the neighbouring Netherlands, euthanasia is permissible for children aged over 12, provided there is a parental consent. In Belgium, euthanasia is allowed for adults since 2002.

While opponents to the crucial legislation said that children can not take such an important decision themselves, supporters of the legislation defended it by saying that it would affect a small number of children.

OneIndia News