Warning From Belgium

Euthanasia is legal in Belgium. It must be carried out by a doctor and with the expressed consent of the patient. There is a new survey out, that ought to scare everybody, who believes that there are safeguards in physician assisted suicide. I'm not saying that safeguards should be the main concern, because it's morally wrong to kill period. But, once a country or state legalizes, people out to know there are no safeguards. And this study reflects that.

 

A high proportion of reported patients who were euthanized, in Belgium, did not ask for their lives to be ended. Euthanasia in Belgium is governed by 'strict' rules. These 'rules' say, that it should be 'physician only', and with the 'patient's consent'.

 

The study showed, that more than 100 nurses admitted to researchers, they had taken part in the terminations without request for consent. This shows, that they went well beyond their legal roles. Euthanasia in Belgium, now accounts for 2% of deaths, or around 2,000 a year.

 

Researchers found a fifth of nurses admitted to being involved in the assisted suicide of a patient. Nearly half of these, 120 of 248, said there was 'no' patient consent. This clearly means that nurses, operated beyond the legal margins of their profession. It is likely, many nurses, under-reported their involvement, for fear of legal repercussions.

 

This information should be a warning bell, that once Pandora's box is opened, just like the abortion issue, there is no such thing as a safeguard. Especially in a society, that has already accepted killing as a solution to social or monetary problems.

 

Americans should be especially concerned with the Affordable Health Care Act, which encompasses rationing of care, that the next step will be the legalization of physician assisted suicide, as a budgetary necessity.