By BARBARA SIMPSON
Most Americans are likely familiar with the term “euthanasia.”
It means the deliberate killing of a patient by medical person, usually a doctor or nurse, although it can be done by a layman. Supposedly, it is done at the request of the “patient/victim” because they are in such pain or discomfort, they do not want to live. In virtually all cases, in this country, it is illegal — considered to be tantamount to murder.
But there are places where acts like these are permitted but they usually apply just to adults. Belgium legalized euthanasia for adults in 2002 — the first country to do so. Then, in 2012, it approved euthanasia for children under 12 and has been the only country which has allowed such assisted dying for those children.
But now, that has changed with the action by the Dutch government to modify its laws concerning health care and euthanasia — which has long been accepted for adults.
The Dutch have allowed euthanasia with parental consent for children under 1 year of age, and also for children aged from 12-15.
Now, under the new law in that country, euthanasia is allowed for all children who are considered to be in a permanent and terrible health condition. It will not matter their age. Both parents are to agree to the decision for the procedure and it must be supported by an appropriate and independent physician or nurse practitioner.
Canada is another country in the news concerning its medical care program. It’s called MAID — that is, Medical Assistance in Dying. It’s available to anyone over the age of 12 — but for those 12-15, parental ok is required and for those 16-17, parental consultation is required.
No one under the age of 12 can participate and it is never done for infants. It is considered that children of those young ages cannot make such decisions.
The number of uses of MAID in Canada annually have increased over the years and there are rumors that it is done on people who really are not that close to death. Something like that is hard to prove and brings up all kinds of legal issues. As a result, while rumors persist, nothing definite has ever been proven in the courts.
“Every time a door is opened to new reasons for killing it always leads to another door. Opening the door to child euthanasia also opens the door to euthanasia without consent,” according to Alex Schadenberg, the executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, as reported by LifeNews.
The move by the Dutch has gotten headlines because that country has been known for being decidedly progressive on the laws concerning this issue. Despite any controversy concerning euthanasia in Holland, it exists, and the country is known for attracting people who want to die. They know that they can do that there, where it is legal. And so they travel there with that intent.
What does all this mean for the United States? It is an interesting question. No doubt there are people here who think people have a right to do what they want with their own bodies and that includes suicide. They believe that medical practitioners should be allowed to assist them if it’s needed, without any legal problems.
So far, that has not happened, but I think it will just be a matter of time that we will be faced with such decisions. I have no doubt, it will be a BIG problem legally. I also have no doubt that euthanasia has taken place on occasion, but not with any public notice, although there are many suspicions.
Not only are there legal issues with euthanasia but there are basic moral issues. Depending on your religion and your church, do you believe we have a right to kill ourselves, or help kill someone who is facing pain and terminal illness? Some people think it’s no problem. For others, it’s a matter of grave sin.
Schadenberg reported some good news on his blog from about a week ago, however:
“Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebello de Sousa vetoed the euthanasia bill today. According to Natasha Donn reporting for the Portugal Resident on April 20:
“President Marcelo has returned the fourth draft of the bill decriminalizing assisted dying to parliament, admitting that his reservations are his own and will not require another sending of the text to the Constitutional Court. . . . Marcelo’s doubts came in the form of who ‘defines the patient’s physical incapacity to self-administer lethal drugs, as well as who should ensure medical supervision during the act of medically assisted death’.”
Schadenberg also wrote: “I am concerned that President de Sousa’s veto will only slow down the legalization of euthanasia / assisted suicide in Portugal.”
The Portugal Resident reported earlier — on March 31 — that Portugal’s Parliament passed a fourth euthanasia bill. Two of the previous bills were declared unconstitutional by Portugal’s Constitutional Court and a third bill was vetoed by President de Sousa.
These are important issues everywhere and no doubt, if the issue of legalizing euthanasia becomes front and center in the American mind, in American politics, and on American news, be prepared for a big battle.
It won’t be pretty.
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