http://www.theglobeandmail.com/serv.../International/

Netherlands proposes euthanasia for newborns in agony

Associated Press

POSTED AT 8:26 PM EST Tuesday, Nov 30, 2004

Amsterdam — A hospital in the Netherlands — the first nation to permit euthanasia — recently proposed guidelines for mercy killings of terminally ill newborns, and then made a startling revelation: It has already begun carrying out such procedures, which include administering a lethal dose of sedatives.

The announcement by the Groningen Academic Hospital came amid a growing discussion in Holland on whether to legalize euthanasia on people incapable of deciding for themselves whether they want to end their lives — a prospect viewed with horror by opponents and as an act of humanity by advocates.

In August, the main Dutch doctors' association KNMG urged the Health Ministry to create an independent board to review euthanasia cases for terminally ill people “with no free will,” including children, the severely mentally retarded and people left in an irreversible coma after an accident.

Three years ago, the Dutch parliament made it legal for doctors to inject a sedative and a lethal dose of muscle relaxant at the request of adult patients suffering great pain with no hope of relief.

The Groningen Protocol, as the hospital's guidelines have come to be known, would create a legal framework for permitting doctors to actively end the life of newborns deemed to be in similar pain from incurable disease or extreme deformities.

The guideline says euthanasia is acceptable when the child's medical team and independent doctors agree the pain cannot be eased and there is no prospect for improvement, and when parents think it's best.

Examples include extremely premature births, where children suffer brain damage from bleeding and convulsions; and diseases where a child could only survive on life support for the rest of its life, such as severe cases of spina bifida and epidermosis bullosa, a rare blistering illness.

The has hospital revealed it carried out four such mercy killings in 2003, and reported all cases to government prosecutors. There have been no legal proceedings against the hospital or the doctors.

Roman Catholic organizations and the Vatican have reacted with outrage to the announcement, and U.S. euthanasia opponents contend the proposal shows the Dutch have lost their moral compass.

“As things are, people are doing this secretly and that's wrong,” said Eduard Verhagen, head of Groningen's children's clinic. “In the Netherlands we want to expose everything, to let everything be subjected to vetting.”

The Groningen clinic estimated the protocol would be applicable in about 10 cases per year in the Netherlands, a country of 16 million people.

Since the introduction of the Dutch law, Belgium has also legalized euthanasia, while in France, legislation to allow doctor-assisted suicide is currently under debate. In the United States, the state of Oregon is alone in allowing physician-assisted suicide, but this is under constant legal challenge.

However, experts acknowledge that doctors euthanize routinely in the United States and elsewhere, but that the practice is hidden.

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C'mon... Just because it appears shocking to you doesn't mean the entire Dutch society is sick now does is? I say it's sick you Italians arew still licking Berlusconi's balls down there... You're loosing yer freedoms you know...

As for this matter... I havn't heard about it before, so I can't confirm if it's true or not... But yeah, I support it... I already support Euthanasia on old and terribly ill ppl, so why not small children? Life should be fun, at least a little...

If I had a little baby, and I'd see him/her suffering from some terrible disease knowing that he/she will die shortly... I'd definately consider euthanasia...

If I were to end up in a coma... plz pull the plug instead of wasting time and money on me... You won't get me back... I'm not having any fun now am I?

I'm not sure about dementia though... That kinda sounds like fun to me

And for the ppl wondering why I havn't closed this thread... I think it's a rather interesting subject...

I agree with eiergooie. I think its even worse keeping a baby alive which is misformed and in pain. It will die shortly anyway so why not just do it now? just dont understand why you think the dutch are sick because of this. I say its a perfectly normal and logical thing to do.

I have heard about this guidelines and I support them. So now I'm sick

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Down-Under was da bomb

So do I. I totally agree with eieregooie, life should be at least a little bit fun. And if it is not, one should have the possibility to terminate it. Sometimes that can be the most humane or civilised thing to do.

If you don't agree, euthanasia is not and will never be an obligation of course. If you think euthanasia is unacceptable, that's also fine, no one will make you. Your opinion will be respected. But don't blame people who think otherwise. Respect them too, and don't call them sick just because you have another opinion.

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Yeah it's under debate here, and i think your government took the right decision.

quote:

Examples include extremely premature births, where children suffer brain damage from bleeding and convulsions; and diseases where a child could only survive on life support for the rest of its life, such as severe cases of spina bifida and epidermosis bullosa, a rare blistering illness.

why would we let them suffer while we blatently now they're just suffering unusually, as they're gonna die soon...

quote:

Roman Catholic organizations and the Vatican have reacted with outrage to the announcement, and U.S. euthanasia opponents contend the proposal shows the Dutch have lost their moral compass

YOU devilish dutch people will pay.. hehe... hope that doesn't come to the ears of our almighty Bush... *sigh*

quote:

The guideline says euthanasia is acceptable when the child's medical team and independent doctors agree the pain cannot be eased and there is no prospect for improvement, and when parents think it's best.

as long as this is respected, everything is alright/ethically ok.

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quote:

Originally posted by Romain why would we let them suffer while we blatently now they're just suffering unusually, as they're gonna die soon... as long as this is respected, everything is alright/ethically ok.

Of course, people are going to be very careful about this, and as I see it, the parents always get to make the final decision. It's not like we're going to start throwing all babies that caught a cold just after they are born in some baby-shredder.

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I think there is a big difference between little childs, which cannot think rationally and older people who can make a decision before they suffer on pain. I don't think that parents should decide for their children about life and death.


I have never heard of the article either. I think this could be some sort of propaganda article, because, if it happens in the Netherlands, it will be on small scale and definitely not common base like suggested in the article. Probably because countries like yours and canada are far far behind in this kind of ethical questions.

Put me on the 'sick-list' as well..



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quote:

Originally posted by Jappio I don't think that parents should decide for their children about life and death.

You'd rather have them grow up in constant pain and suffering, not to mention placing an enormous emotional burden on the parents, in the hopes that they will be able to make this decision for themselves one day?

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My take on... (various mixes planned, updated when I can be arsed)

quote:

Originally posted by basd You'd rather have them grow up in constant pain and suffering, not to mention placing an enormous emotional burden on the parents, in the hopes that they will be able to make this decision for themselves one day?

I think we are talking here about dying (little) children and not about children with a "grow-up" future. When a child is able to grow up even with a horrible decease then you can't commit euthanasia.

Euthanasia is only commited in Holland in my opinion when somebody is dying and the diagnostic is that the this person will die in a few days, weeks or months.

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quote:

Originally posted by basd You'd rather have them grow up in constant pain and suffering, not to mention placing an enormous emotional burden on the parents, in the hopes that they will be able to make this decision for themselves one day?

I don't think the parents should make the decision for the child no. Out of the fact that I wouldn't dare to make this decision about life or the death of my child. What about the situation that there will be a curing medicine available in a couple of years which helps the child to live normally? I think you don't want to confront parents with this.

And the big difference between older people and childs is that when you are able to survive the disease, you have a long life ahead of you; while this isn't so for people of 80 years or some kind of age.