Summer Blogpost #1

Child Euthanasia in Belgium

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/world-first-as-belgium-allows-euthanasia-for-children-with-terminal-illness-9127078.html

As the title of this blog post entry shows, Belgium joins the group of countries of the world that allow the use of euthanasia in a patient of any age, that is facing irreversible and terminal ill conditions. After an intensive debate in which politicians and doctors presented their opinions on deciding whether or not the law should be approved, the main point being argued was that if adult people had the right to decide if they wanted to stay alive in painful conditions since 2002, a child being aware of his situation, and being mature enough to understand the decision should also have the right to decide whether or not to choose euthanasia. After the oppositions of religious groups, the lawmakers, and the Senate concluded with the approval of the law. At this point in which it is understood that it has been given the opportunity to choose whether or not to die to people in such irreversible situation, the question that arises here is: Is euthanasia ethical?


First off it is of vital importance to understand that the mental competency of the patient is always a question, although it can be proved or disproved, Secondly, the social pressure can definitely affect this decision. And finally in the case that the patient is completely competent, the decision of government, should not get involved. For this last statement, the Consequentialism view states that the consequences of one's conduct are the ultimate basis for any judgement about the rightness or wrongness of that conduct. Therefore what we can understand though this ethical view is that it is the consequence of the decision of the patient is the basis of his own judgement.

On the other hand, taking the Christian view applying the WOK of Faith, euthanasia is completely wrong, since life is given by God, and only God should decide when to end it.  Besides of that, faith is present in this situation, since through faith, this patients should believe that God has a plan, and a purpose for them, instead of deciding by themselves that their lives are already over in that irreversible situation.