Nine-year-old allowed to die via lethal injection was youngest ever euthanasia patient
Warning: This article contains discussion of health issues and assisted dying which some readers may find distressing
Between 2016 and 2017, two terminally ill children became the youngest ever people to die via euthanasia.
The topic of assisted dying and euthanasia has always been a controversial one, and with the UK bill currently making its way through the House of Lords, the debate is as important as ever.
The proposed law, the Assisted Dying Bill, would give mentally competent adults who are terminally ill the option to control the manner and timing of their death.
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It's important to note that euthanasia and assisted dying vary slightly - euthanasia sees a doctor administer a lethal dose to end a person's life, while assisted dying involves a doctor providing a patient with the means, such as medication, to end their own life.
Recent cases of assisted dying
German nationals Alice and Ellen Kessler, more commonly known as the Kessler twins, have been in the news this week after they died by assisted suicide at the age of 89 on Monday (17 November).
Bild reported that the twins left the world the same way they entered it - together - as they 'no longer wanted to live'.
In Germany, in 2020, the Federal Constitutional Court declared it a constitutional right to have a self-determined death. However, there are rules, including that the person wanting to end their life must 'act responsibly and of their own free will', as well as being of legal age, and no one is allowed to actively assist, such as administering the drug for you.
Meanwhile, in some US states, like Oregon, the person wishing to seek assisted dying must be over 18, be mentally competent, and have a terminal illness that could result in death within 6 months.
As you can see, it's a complicated process that differs across the world, with some countries banning it altogether.
The youngest ever patients of euthanasia
In Belgium in 2016 and 2017, a nine and 11-year-old became the youngest ever to be euthanised after they were given lethal injections.
As per the Independent, Belgium has the world’s only law allowing terminally ill children in 'unbearable suffering' to end their own lives.
In 2014, the country amended its law on euthanasia, authorising doctors to terminate the life of a child, at any age, who makes the request.
The law requires the child to have the ability to understand and written consent by the parents and very strict medical criteria must also be fulfilled.
The children's deaths were revealed in 2018 in a report from the CFCEE, which is the commission that regulates euthanasia in the country.
'I saw mental and physical suffering so overwhelming'
A member of the Belgian commission, Luc Proot, told the Washington Post that he 11-year-old boy had cystic fibrosis and the nine-year-old had a brain tumour.
He told the publication: "I saw mental and physical suffering so overwhelming that I thought we did a good thing."
A 17-year-old with Duchenne muscular dystrophy also died by assisted suicide within the same time frame.
It's understandably a very controversial topic and opponents, including some church leaders, argue that children cannot make such a difficult decision.
As per the BBC, Brussels Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard, head of the Catholic Church in Belgium said in a prayer vigil at the time: "The law says adolescents cannot make important decisions on economic or emotional issues, but suddenly they've become able to decide that someone should make them die."
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.
Additionally, for support and information surrounding assisted dying you can visit Dignity in Dying.
Topics: World News, UK News, Life, Health
Madison Burgess