ST Dec 16, 2004

Dutch doctors support infant euthanasia

THE HAGUE - DOCTORS in the Netherlands are calling for laws allowing them to end the lives of newborns with intolerable and incurable illnesses.

Doctors from the country's eight university hospitals have asked that a committee of experts be set up to consider the issue, a BBC report said yesterday.

The Dutch government will give its opinion over the next few months.

The proposed committee of experts would define the criteria that would apply to infant euthanasia in children born with extreme malformations, for instance they may have no brain.

It would relate to only about 600 infants in the world and between 10 and 15 in The Netherlands, the BBC report said.

The move has revived the debate on the controversial issue of euthanasia.

Doctors here say paediatricians worldwide are in favour of ending the lives of newborns in
certain circumstances.


When is it ever rite 2 end sme1's life.........