This is the 'civilized, enlightened' Europe we're supposed to emulate.
Posted on 01/23/2005 3:02:39 PM PST by Cornpone
Dutch doctors have reported 22 mercy killings of terminally ill babies since 1997, according to a new study. None of the doctors involved were charged, although euthanasia for children is illegal in the Netherlands.
The report, in the Dutch Journal of Medicine, is the first detailed examination of child euthanasia.
The study's authors want to address under-reporting of the practice and encourage doctors to report cases without fear of prosecution.
The cases involved babies with extreme spina bifida, a disabling birth defect.
The study showed that prosecutors had decided not to file charges as long as four unofficial rules were met:
the child's medical team and independent doctors must agree there is no prospect of improvement and the pain cannot be eased parents give their consent the life must be ended in the correct medical way A survey has suggested Dutch doctors end the lives of about 15 to 20 disabled newborns a year but most go unreported.
"The babies are there but we were never allowed to talk about them," said paediatrician Eduard Verhagen, of Groningen University Medical Centre, and one of the authors of the study.
"That must change. If we take this awfully difficult decision, it must happen with complete openness," he told De Volkskrant newspaper.
"You are trained to save the life of a child but with these children the suffering can only be stopped by ending their lives. It takes courage to do that."
In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to legalise euthanasia but doctors must follow strict rules.
The Vatican has criticised the Netherlands over its legalisation of euthanasia.
Well...we've been told that global warming will cause the world's oceans to rise several "metres."
A well spoken reply. I hope it doesn't come to that. I have traveled many times to the Netherlands and I have friends there...I can only hope with their recent 'awakenings' that they will reconsider the path they are taking lest they become victims of their excessive liberalism.
This is the 'civilized, enlightened' Europe we're supposed to emulate.
And so it comes full circle. Has nothing been learned from the 20th century?
Me too. Some of them do seem to be opening their eyes.
My sister has gone to the Netherlands several times. She loves the country and the people.
Heil?
"Even the staunchest fiscal conservative can agree."
I agree.
But then again I'm known as a bit of a mush.
Oh....a mush....I thought they were calling you a lush.....my mistake!
I agree. That's why I applaud programs like BVS
Baker Victory Services (BVS) offers a wide-range of services for individuals with physical, developmental, and/or behavioral challenges. In addition, BVS includes programming which supplies a lifetime of care--from infancy to late adulthood.Programs are divided into the following divisions (click each to go directly to a division): Educational Services, Adoptive and Foster Care Services, Outpatient Services, Residential Services, Services for the Developmentally Disabled, Women's Services, and Affiliate Organizations/Related Services.
First they came for the unborn and I said nothing, then they came for the disabled and I said nothing...well I think you can figure out the rest.
Democrats have redefined the word "Needy." Real people in need are victims of circumstances beyond their control like the disabled. Not victims of themselves and their own choices.
And we saved these people from the Nazis why?
So someone could get it right the second time around?
-the child's medical team and independent doctors must agree
-there is no prospect of improvement and the pain cannot be eased
-parents give their consent
-the life must be ended in the correct medical way "
I imagine these babies would have never been born alive were it not for technology, and they’re probably hanging on in pain by the same technology waiting to die. What’s the alternative?
I guess they will never know. Ask my sister. She does. And she is still alive after 55 years as a 'miracle child.' Only God knows.
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