The Netherlands, which was the first in the world to legalise euthanasia, is now looking to extend the scope of its present legislation to include doctor-assisted death for terminally ill children who are between 1 to 12 years of age, media reports said on Friday quoting the Dutch government.&nbsp;

The Netherlands legalised euthanasia in 2002 under the Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act. This law allows doctors to legally end the lives of patients who are suffering unbearably with no prospect of improvement.&nbsp;

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According to the government, the new regulations would apply to an estimated 5 to 10 children annually who endure unbearable disease-related suffering. However, it must meet strict criteria that the children have no chance of recovery and palliative care also fails to give relief.

The Dutch government in a statement said, "The end of life for this group is the only reasonable alternative to the child's unbearable and hopeless suffering."&nbsp;

The legislation previously allowed for the possibility of euthanasia for terminally ill babies up to their first birthday and for children older than 12 years old. According to data from regional euthanasia review boards, there was just one case of euthanasia for a minor between the ages of 12 and 16 in 2022.

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In the Netherlands, doctors who carry out euthanasia must follow strict guidelines. It includes obtaining the patient's informed consent and reporting the procedure to a review committee.

Belgium, the first nation which allowed euthanasia for children

Belgium since 2014 started allowing doctor-assisted death for children of all ages. The legislation does, however, place certain limitations on children who wish to exercise these rights. It is required that they must have the permission of their parents and medical professionals. It must be a fatal or incurable illness or chronic pain.

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With the passage of the Belgian Euthanasia Act in 2002, euthanasia became officially authorised in Belgium for individuals who suffer from “constant and unbearable physical or mental suffering that cannot be alleviated”.

Euthanasia laws have been controversial internationally. Many of its supporters argue that it allows patients to die with dignity and relieve their suffering. However, those who oppose Euthanasia say that it is unethical and undermines the value of human life. 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
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The Netherlands, which was the first in the world to legalise euthanasia, is now looking to extend the scope of its present legislation to include doctor-assisted death for terminally ill children who are between 1 to 12 years of age, media reports said on Friday quoting the Dutch government.

The Netherlands, which was the first in the world to legalise euthanasia, is now looking to extend the scope of its present legislation to include doctor-assisted death for terminally ill children who are between 1 to 12 years of age, media reports said on Friday quoting the Dutch government. The Netherlands legalised euthanasia in 2002 under the Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act. This law allows doctors to legally end the lives of patients who are suffering unbearably with no prospect of improvement. Also Read | Putin approves electronic call-up bill, clamps down on Russians who dodge military service According to the government, the new regulations would apply to an estimated 5 to 10 children annually who endure unbearable disease-related suffering. However, it must meet strict criteria that the children have no chance of recovery and palliative care also fails to give relief. The Dutch government in a statement said, "The end of life for this group is the only reasonable alternative to the child's unbearable and hopeless suffering." The legislation previously allowed for the possibility of euthanasia for terminally ill babies up to their first birthday and for children older than 12 years old. According to data from regional euthanasia review boards, there was just one case of euthanasia for a minor between the ages of 12 and 16 in 2022. Also Read | Pentagon leak: US President Biden says investigation will examine why leaker had classified access In the Netherlands, doctors who carry out euthanasia must follow strict guidelines. It includes obtaining the patient's informed consent and reporting the procedure to a review committee. Belgium, the first nation which allowed euthanasia for children Belgium since 2014 started allowing doctor-assisted death for children of all ages. The legislation does, however, place certain limitations on children who wish to exercise these rights. It is required that they must have the permission of their parents and medical professionals. It must be a fatal or incurable illness or chronic pain. Watch | Macron's pension reform gets constitutional green light despite raging protests × With the passage of the Belgian Euthanasia Act in 2002, euthanasia became officially authorised in Belgium for individuals who suffer from “constant and unbearable physical or mental suffering that cannot be alleviated”. Euthanasia laws have been controversial internationally. Many of its supporters argue that it allows patients to die with dignity and relieve their suffering. However, those who oppose Euthanasia say that it is unethical and undermines the value of human life. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Netherlands backs extending euthanasia laws to include terminally ill children aged 1 to 12 years

Facing backlash from several quarters, the Canadian government has decided to delay expanding euthanasia or medically assisted death facility to people with mental illness.

Facing backlash from several quarters, the Canadian government has decided to delay expanding euthanasia or medically assisted death facility to people with mental illness. Canada's Justice Minister David Lametti last week acknowledged that the government was listening and that more time was required to get the proposal right. “We are listening to what we are hearing and being responsive, to make sure we move forward in a prudent way. We know we need to get this right in order to protect those who are vulnerable and also to support an individual’s autonomy and freedom of choice." Earlier, the government had kept plans to broaden euthanasia under the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) legislation, starting mid-March next year. Read more: Countries where euthanasia, assisted suicide is legal The critics of the law argue that the Canadian healthcare system is not prepared enough to handle complicated mental illness cases. Expediting the facility to all could have had far-reaching and in some cases, devastating consequences. A petition filed by the Society of Canadian Psychiatry, a national voluntary professional association with 4,700 psychiatrists on the roster has urged the government to delay the expansion of MAiD until 2024. WATCH | Gravitas: Can a person end their own life to escape pain? × Meanwhile, the supporters have called the 'delay', a discriminatory step for mentally challenged individuals and that it promotes stigmatisation. The law, which first came into being in 2016 only allowed patients with terminal illness to have the access to the procedure. However, after criticism and court cases, in 2019, a Quebec judge ordered that the law, deemed unconstitutional at the time also allow adults who didn't have a reasonably foreseeable death to have the opportunity to avail the procedure. Read more: Experts raise alarm as Canada expands euthanasia to cover those with mental illnesses As a result, 'Bill C-7' was passed in March last year which reflected the judge's concerns. However, the legislators imposed a two-year ban on patients with mental illness receiving assisted death. A study was ordered to understand the complex situation which will end in March next year. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Canada delays euthanasia for mentally ill after facing criticism

Starting mid-march, Canada will allow medical euthanasia for people plagued with mental disorders under the country's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) legislation.&nbsp;From March 17, the law in Canada expands to include those suffering from medical illnesses. Currently, as per VOA, the law only applies to people whose death is deemed "reasonable foreseeable death" or those who suffer from a debilitating illness.

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The proposed expansion of MAiD has garnered mixed reactions. While patients who had previously faced rejections of their assisted suicide requests and who now find the path to a "release" easier are all in favour of the new law. However, others including experts are in vehement opposition.

CTV News reports that the Association of Chairs of Psychiatry in Canada, which includes the directors of the departments of psychiatry at all 17 medical schools, has&nbsp;requested that the modification to the MAiD law&nbsp;be postponed.

In a statement released on Thursday, the association&nbsp;notes that significant, unsolved concerns include the lack of public education on suicide prevention and a clear definition of irremediability or the point at which recovery is impossible.

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Dr Valerie Taylor, who heads the group, said that while a lot of work is being done in Canada, "further time is required to increase awareness of this change and establish guidelines and standards to which clinicians, patients and the public can turn to for more education and information."

The University of Manitoba's director of the psychiatry department, Dr Jitender Sareen, said , that if a patient wants MAiD solely for mental health conditions, "we don't have the clear standards around definitions of who's eligible. How many assessments and what kinds of assessment would they actually need?"

Victoria-based lawyer Chris Considine has been at the forefront of advocating for euthanasia, and supports cases that include terminal illnesses like cancer or ALS but says that mental health cases are not clear-cut.

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As per him, while mental health issues have grown their treatment hasn't.

“In addition, there are underlying causes for mental health which are not strictly organic," VOA quotes Considine as saying.&nbsp;

He adds that mental health problems can stem from many reasons, "there may be depression caused by poor housing, poor job prospects and other issues, which will drive people into a deep depression. Those issues could be solved, and therefore, there may not really be a need for MAiD."

In his opinion, the March date needs to be pushed back or at least strict guidelines need to be put in place so MAiD "does not become a substitute for housing, health care and other forms of social assistance".

(With inputs from agencies)

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Starting mid-march, Canada will allow medical euthanasia for people plagued with mental disorders under the country's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) legislation.

Starting mid-march, Canada will allow medical euthanasia for people plagued with mental disorders under the country's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) legislation. From March 17, the law in Canada expands to include those suffering from medical illnesses. Currently, as per VOA, the law only applies to people whose death is deemed "reasonable foreseeable death" or those who suffer from a debilitating illness. Watch | What is euthanasia? The proposed expansion of MAiD has garnered mixed reactions. While patients who had previously faced rejections of their assisted suicide requests and who now find the path to a "release" easier are all in favour of the new law. However, others including experts are in vehement opposition. CTV News reports that the Association of Chairs of Psychiatry in Canada, which includes the directors of the departments of psychiatry at all 17 medical schools, has requested that the modification to the MAiD law be postponed. In a statement released on Thursday, the association notes that significant, unsolved concerns include the lack of public education on suicide prevention and a clear definition of irremediability or the point at which recovery is impossible. Also read | Countries where euthanasia, assisted suicide is legal Dr Valerie Taylor, who heads the group, said that while a lot of work is being done in Canada, "further time is required to increase awareness of this change and establish guidelines and standards to which clinicians, patients and the public can turn to for more education and information." The University of Manitoba's director of the psychiatry department, Dr Jitender Sareen, said , that if a patient wants MAiD solely for mental health conditions, "we don't have the clear standards around definitions of who's eligible. How many assessments and what kinds of assessment would they actually need?" Victoria-based lawyer Chris Considine has been at the forefront of advocating for euthanasia, and supports cases that include terminal illnesses like cancer or ALS but says that mental health cases are not clear-cut. Also read | Portugal's parliament passes bill decriminalising euthanasia for third time As per him, while mental health issues have grown their treatment hasn't. “In addition, there are underlying causes for mental health which are not strictly organic," VOA quotes Considine as saying. He adds that mental health problems can stem from many reasons, "there may be depression caused by poor housing, poor job prospects and other issues, which will drive people into a deep depression. Those issues could be solved, and therefore, there may not really be a need for MAiD." In his opinion, the March date needs to be pushed back or at least strict guidelines need to be put in place so MAiD "does not become a substitute for housing, health care and other forms of social assistance". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Experts raise alarm as Canada expands euthanasia to cover those with mental illnesses

Colombian Victor Escobar sent a heartfelt message before his death by euthanasia on Friday (January 7). He became the first Colombian to be euthanised despite not being in a terminal condition.&nbsp;

Hours before his death, Escobar said that it "opens doors to other patients" who "wish for a dignified death." Escobar had a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that prevented him from breathing on his own.

Escobar, aged 60, said, "We'll meet again in time, wherever God will have us."&nbsp;

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"We've managed to achieve this objective so that patients like myself, who are not terminal but are in a degenerative condition, manage to win this battle," Escobar said.&nbsp;

"It's a battle which opens the doors for other patients behind me who wish to have a dignified death right now," he added.&nbsp;

His lawyer Luis Giraldo, who confirmed the procedure had been completed, told Reuters that his lung-related disease caused a number of other conditions as well.&nbsp;

His lawyer Giraldo said that his "decision to die with dignity" was carried out. He further informed, "We would like to be happy. We would like to celebrate that Victor's decision was carried out but it's not like that. Victor suffered a lot but in the end he won the battle."&nbsp;

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Important to note that Escobar is the first person to undergo euthanasia in Colombia without having a terminal illness, although he is not the first case of euthanasia in the country.

According to Colombian legal rights advocacy group DescLAB, at least 178 people had undergone the procedure since 2015.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Colombian Victor Escobar sent a heartfelt message before his death by euthanasia on Friday (January 7). He became the first Colombian to be euthanised despite not being in a terminal condition.

Colombian Victor Escobar sent a heartfelt message before his death by euthanasia on Friday (January 7). He became the first Colombian to be euthanised despite not being in a terminal condition. Hours before his death, Escobar said that it "opens doors to other patients" who "wish for a dignified death." Escobar had a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that prevented him from breathing on his own. Escobar, aged 60, said, "We'll meet again in time, wherever God will have us." ALSO READ | China's parenting law: Court directs divorced mother to live with child "We've managed to achieve this objective so that patients like myself, who are not terminal but are in a degenerative condition, manage to win this battle," Escobar said. "It's a battle which opens the doors for other patients behind me who wish to have a dignified death right now," he added. His lawyer Luis Giraldo, who confirmed the procedure had been completed, told Reuters that his lung-related disease caused a number of other conditions as well. His lawyer Giraldo said that his "decision to die with dignity" was carried out. He further informed, "We would like to be happy. We would like to celebrate that Victor's decision was carried out but it's not like that. Victor suffered a lot but in the end he won the battle." ALSO READ | Three men sentenced to life in prison for murder of Ahmaud Arbery Important to note that Escobar is the first person to undergo euthanasia in Colombia without having a terminal illness, although he is not the first case of euthanasia in the country. According to Colombian legal rights advocacy group DescLAB, at least 178 people had undergone the procedure since 2015. (With inputs from agencies)

'We will meet again': 60-year-old becomes first in Colombia to undergo euthanasia for non-terminal illness

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