Baby euthanasia is a reality

11 April 2007

BRUSSELS – About half of the 300 deaths of infants under the age of one are the result of active life termination. This emerged from a study by Professor Veerle Provoost of the University of Ghent.

Provoost examined the medical files of about 300 babies. She also interviewed the acting physicians about the exact cause of death. In about 150 cases the baby’s life had been actively terminated.

This involves stopping treatment or administering a fatal dose of opiates. In 9 percent of cases products were explicitly administered to end the child’s life.

These cases were babies with no chance of survival, or, in 30 percent of these cases, little hope of having an acceptable quality of life.

In most cases (84 percent) the decision was made in consultation with the parents.

Subject: Belgian news