Belgium fits the typical pattern: Once euthanasia is legalized, the law tells the society it is not only legal, but right, and “use” increases. There are now 37 reported cases each month. And of course, all cases are not reported. Studies show this repeatedly. For example, in the Netherlands, about half of the euthanasia cases are not reported as required by law. Of course, nothing is ever done about it.
But, you ask, what about Oregon? As I have written, nobody really knows what is happening in Oregon since the reporting system depends entirely on self reporting by death doctors, who are about as likely to admit breaking the law as they are to tell the IRS they cheated on their taxes. Moreover, Oregon is being used as a political tool to try and seduce the rest of the country into accepting assisted suicide. And, it is mostly being carried out by doctors affiliated with or who assist Compassion and Choices in facilitating assisted suicides. Since any slippage as happens in Belgium and the Netherlands would redound to opponents’ of assisted suicide benefit, the lid is kept on tight. Still, abuses have come to light, such as the Michael Freeland and Kate Cheney cases.
But mark my words, if assisted suicide is ever legalized here and widely accepted by the populace, the same fall off the moral cliff will happen here that has happened in the Netherlands and Belgium (where the very first euthanasia violated the so-called protective guidelines).
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