Half of Infant Deaths in Flanders Were Euthanasia

The Telegraph ^ | April 9, 2005 | David Rennie

[quidnunc]

Brussels – Nearly half the newborn babies who died in Flanders over a recent year-long period were helped to die by their doctors, a new study reported yesterday.

Paediatricians in the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium either discreetly stopped treating the babies or, in 17 cases, illegally killed them with lethal doses of painkillers.

The study, published in The Lancet, examined the deaths of every baby who died within a year of birth in Flanders between August 1999 and July 2000.

The results of a survey on the causes of death were stark: paediatricians who responded to the survey admitted they had taken "end of life" decisions in more than half the cases.

Most commonly, that involved withholding or withdrawing treatment because physicians believed the baby had no real chance of survival or the baby had no chance of a "bearable future".

In 40 cases, opiate pain killers were used in doses with a potentially life-shortening affect. In 17 cases, a lethal dose or lethal drugs were administered.

Overall, the research yielded information on 253 out of the total of 298 infant deaths in the region over the period. The lethal doses of painkillers, which broke Belgian law, were mainly administered to babies less than a week old.

-snip-

[Incorrigible]

Bump

[Rokke]

Call me too black and white, but in my book, killing something or someone that is innocent is murder.

[madprof98]

. . . helped to die . . .

Helped to die? HELPED to die??? Oh, yeah, killed!!!

[CFC__VRWC]

This is what the democrat party has in mind for our children

[cripplecreek]

That's rather sobering. Can you imagine being a doctor and realizing that you and your fellow docs killed half the babies who died.

[Lion in Winter]

I agree.

[TaxRelief]

shock ping

[Aliska]

Maybe it would be better to try to figure out why so many babies are being born so defective. But that would involve tests which would lead to more defectives being killed by abortion.

[thoughtomator]

There are no degrees of life. There is life, and there is death. Black and white is appropriate because it describes the difference between the two states. We must prefer life under the law in all cases if any of us are to be guaranteed that basic, inalienable right.

[MisterRepublican]

Not just Democrats but some Republicans and of course the Libertarians.

[caisson71]

I can see the defense at Saddam's trial claiming he is innocent of murdering 300,000+ people because he was "helping them to die".

[AlbionGirl]

"bearable future"

Nice phrase for those judging what's bearable, redolent of sulphur for those at the mercy of said judgement.

[BigFinn]

EUTHANASIA in Flanders has now become YOUTHANASIA.

[CFC__VRWC]

I can see the defense at Saddam's trial claiming he is innocent of murdering 300,000+ people because he was "helping them to die".

And I can see people all over Europe and in the blue states agreeing with him and calling him a visionary.

[bvw]

In Flanders' fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses bike paths, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns sony walkmans below.

We are the dead babes. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved,A burden discarded and now we lie
In Flanders' fields.

[JCEccles]

Belgium. The country of nuts, fruitcakes, pedophiles, and baby killing doctors that wants to indict Bush for war crimes.

[MHGinTN]

Mainly, they were serially killing babies only a month old or younger, so it's okay in Eurotrashland.

[okie01]

Extremely appropriate edit.

Thanks for that very incisive and poignant post.

[JimSEA]

When I read articles like this one, I can't help but think about the young man from LA who, having bee born with no arms, played the guitar with his feet and sang for Pope John Paul II.