Back
on Dec
01, 2004, I posted about the Groningen Protocol, 'guidelines'
for Dutch doctors in deciding whether and under what circumstances
to kill children under 12, including newborns.
Now, 'to prod the government of the Netherlands', 'a group of
senior Dutch doctors has reported itself to prosecutors for having
"killed" 20 newborns.' (The quotes around 'killed' are in the
original.)
In Netherlands, debate begins on euthanizing critically ill
children.
The current Dutch law permits doctor-assisted suicide, but only for
people over 12, and only by persons who request it. At least 22
babies have been put to death since 1987, according to last month's
Dutch Journal of Medicine.
While the University Medical Center Groningen page
describing the
Protocol states
- the suffering must be so severe that the newborn has no
prospects of a future;
- 'there is no possibility of a cure or alleviation with
medication or surgery;'
- 'the parents must always give their consent;'
- 'a second opinion must be provided by an independent doctor who
has not been involved with the child's treatment; and'
- 'the deliberate ending of life must be meticulously carried out
with the emphasis on aftercare.'
doctors have been taking the babies' lives against the law for 17
years. If they have been ignoring the law until now, why should
parents expect them to obey the law if it changes?
HT to Colleen Hammond:
Debate begins on euthanizing critically ill children at
Dressing with
Dignity blog.