AMSTERDAM, Nov 28 (LSN.ca) – The Dutch Parliament passed, 104-40, a law today formally legalizing euthanasia. Although the practice was already common in the country for some 20 years, experts fear that formal legalization will lead to an increase in the already out-of-control situation where the elderly fear entering hospitals in case they are euthanized without their consent. The new law says that the patient must be suffering unbearable and unremitting pain, must have repeatedly asked to be killed and a second medical opinion must be sought.
A controversial clause which would have allowed children as young as 12 to end their lives without their parent’s approval was dropped from the legislation. Catholic World News reported that euthanasia advocates have said they will not stop with the limits imposed by the new euthanasia law. They want to allow children as young as 12 to demand their own death even if their parents disagree and to allow people who are “tired of life” to also ask their doctors to kill them. The law is expected to pass in the Senate without difficulty.
See the BBC and CWN coverage at: https://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1044000/1044289.stm https://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=9874