In November last year I attended a debate in Brussells between my Canadian colleague, Alex Schadenberg and two leading Belgian pro-euthanasia academics. As I reported at the time, the comments made by Professor Etienne Vermeersch in not only defending the Belgian laws but also in arguing that there was 'not enough euthanasia' in his country left many of us speechless. Vermeersch was very clear: his aim to eliminate all suffering is a program of eliminating all sufferers. His observation that 'not enough euthanasia' deaths were occurring followed by a pointed attack on an audience member where Vermeersch said, 'Wait until you are paralyzed' said it all.No-one wants to suffer and no-one wishes suffering upon another. This point, at least, we can say that we share with Vermeersch. But once we make the elimination of suffering the criteria for killing people were spinning out of control in a vortex that has only one logical conclusion: totally unfettered and unregulated euthanasia - with or without request.We should be wary of accepting the opinion of one academic to draw such a calamitous conclusion. But Vermeersch's words are also supported by what has occurred and what continues to occur in his country. Continue reading

  Belgium: accelerating down the slippery slope Continue reading

This post first appeared on Alex Schadenberg's Blog: That this House:(a) noting that:(i) the Belgium Parliament has recently authorised the direct killing of children through euthanasia;(ii) euthanasia or assisted suicide is now routinely performed in Belgium and the Netherlands on persons with no terminal illness but with psychiatric disorders such as anorexia or depression or with disabilities such as blindness; and(iii) Dr Philip Nitschke during a recent visit to Perth offered instruction in methods of suicide including how to illegally obtain pentobarbitone, a schedule 8 poison, and how to use nitrogen as an undetectable means of ending life;(b) condemns the practice of child euthanasia;(c) commends palliative care as an appropriate response to terminal and chronic illness;(d) affirms the value of every human life including those with mental illness or disability; and(e) endorses suicide prevention as the appropriate response to all those who for whatever reason may think life is not worth living. I was not involved in the decision-making process and the doctor who gave her the injection never contacted me. ...  Continue reading

This statement paper, developed by members of the Belgian Society of Intensive Care Medicine Council, is not about giving analgesics or sedative agents to combat pain or agitation, nor about the so-called double effect, wherein analgesics given to alleviate pain may have the adverse effect of shortening the dying process. The discussion here is about the administration of sedative agents with the direct intention of shortening the process of terminal palliative care in patients with no prospect of a meaningful recoveryâ�¦ Moreover, we explain our belief in the concept that shortening the dying process by administering sedatives beyond what is needed for patient comfort can be not only acceptable but in many cases desirable.Shortening the dying process with use of medication, such as analgesics/sedatives, may sometimes be appropriate, even in the absence of discomfort, and can actually improve the quality of dying; this approach can also help relatives accompany their loved one through the dying processâ��such a decision should be made with due consideration for the wishes of family members. Continue reading

  This article first appeared on : Continue reading

This is simply and breathtakingly cruel. But cruelty seems to be off the Belgian moral register when it comes to euthanasia. Logan's Run?More like Soylent Green with glee.  Continue reading

"It is high time that we not only make friends but also appreciate the condition of the society we plan to contact with. Therefore, we can say that the society which officially favours murdering of children is unhealthy." Russia has decided to protect its citizens from euthanasia. People will often adopt children with disabilities. Russia has made a good decision to protect Russian children from being adopted by citizens of countries that allow euthanasia of children. Continue reading

Philosophers with no suspicion that anything is beyond their professional competence, or may be too deep for their individual talent, 'mistake [their] vices for the virtue of thinking radically, courageously...', [and they] have contributed to a drive that feeds an aggressive and now much less self-reflective lobby, who make the same mistake of vice for virtue. (Rai Gaita, 1991)  Continue reading

A reflective piece by Theodore Dalrymple from the website:Taki's Magazine Continue reading

Interview with Professor Ghins, Professor of Philosophy at the Centre for Philosophy of Science, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. This interview first appeared in French on the Belgian website . Continue reading