Belgian Euthanasia: Going Up

Euthanasia is legal in Belgium as well as the Netherlands. And if anything, the Belgians have embraced it with greater fervor than the Dutch. Cases have risen 15% and that is thought to be underreported. From the story:

However, the real number of cases is believed to be double that 1% of deaths in Belgian are speeded up by euthanasia. Around 1,000 people received help to end their lives last year.

Most cases were in Flanders, which makes sense since it is closest culturally to the Netherlands. Not coincidentally, a few years ago a Lancet study found that about 8% of all babies who die in Flanders are killed by doctors. That’s what happens when killing is deemed an acceptable answer to human suffering.

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