Death by Committee
I never cease to be amazed at how open minded many Europeans are.
The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia. There are legal standards that have been issued that must be followed by doctors that allow an individual with a terminal illness to request the procedure. The requirements are stringent and require the agreement of two physicians.
A new twist has developed recently, and with it a new insight into the European mentality.
The provision, as written, does not allow relief for those who are unable to make their own decisions (comatose patients, babies, etc.). Doctors acknowledge that these individuals would benefit the same as those who can make a decision. For babies these would include infants with extreme spina bifada and other similar conditions that are so extreme that the child would be in excruciating pain for ever, and would have no quality of life at all.
In America, if a parent would wish to remove a feeding tube from a child, the courts would probably take custody of the child and prosecute the parents. In the Netherlands doctors are assisting such patients in every way that they can. The board that oversees euthanasia freely admits that several of such patients are have their lives ended each year. Instead of hiding this currently illegal procedure, the doctors and hospitals make sure that the nation knows what they are doing. In bringing this activity into the spotlight they hope to standardize the code and help those who are suffering the most.
As a person, I hope that I am never in such debilitating condition. If I am, I hope that someone helps me move on. As a father, I would hate to make such a decision for my child, but I would hate even more to see them suffer without relief.
Once again I marvel that the residents of another country can see how important the quality of human life is. Quality, not quantity.
The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia. There are legal standards that have been issued that must be followed by doctors that allow an individual with a terminal illness to request the procedure. The requirements are stringent and require the agreement of two physicians.
A new twist has developed recently, and with it a new insight into the European mentality.
The provision, as written, does not allow relief for those who are unable to make their own decisions (comatose patients, babies, etc.). Doctors acknowledge that these individuals would benefit the same as those who can make a decision. For babies these would include infants with extreme spina bifada and other similar conditions that are so extreme that the child would be in excruciating pain for ever, and would have no quality of life at all.
In America, if a parent would wish to remove a feeding tube from a child, the courts would probably take custody of the child and prosecute the parents. In the Netherlands doctors are assisting such patients in every way that they can. The board that oversees euthanasia freely admits that several of such patients are have their lives ended each year. Instead of hiding this currently illegal procedure, the doctors and hospitals make sure that the nation knows what they are doing. In bringing this activity into the spotlight they hope to standardize the code and help those who are suffering the most.
As a person, I hope that I am never in such debilitating condition. If I am, I hope that someone helps me move on. As a father, I would hate to make such a decision for my child, but I would hate even more to see them suffer without relief.
Once again I marvel that the residents of another country can see how important the quality of human life is. Quality, not quantity.
posted by Keith at 8:32 PM
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