Child euthanasia

Child euthanasia

Child euthanasia is a controversial form of non-voluntary euthanasia that is applied to children who are gravely ill or suffer from significant birth defects.

Some critics[who?] have compared child euthanasia to infanticide. Others, such as Joseph Fletcher, founder of situational ethics and a euthanasia proponent, proposed that infanticide be permitted in cases of severe birth defects. Fletcher says that unlike the sort of infanticide perpetrated by very disturbed people, in such cases child euthanasia could be considered humane; a logical and acceptable extension of abortion.[1] American bioethicist Jacob M. Appel goes one step further, arguing that pediatric euthanasia may be ethical even in the absence of parental consent.[2]

Contents

Child euthanasia by country

The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, euthanasia remains technically illegal for patients under the age of 12. However, Eduard Verhagen has documented several cases of infant euthanasia. Together with colleagues and prosecutors, he has developed a protocol to be followed in those cases. Prosecutors will refrain from pressing charges if this "Groningen Protocol" is followed.[3][4]

The legalization of euthanasia for children prompted a very critical response from Elio Sgreccia, the head of the Pontifical Academy for Life.[5]

United Kingdom

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics launched an enquiry in 2006 into critical care in fetal and neonatal medicine, looking at the ethical, social and legal issues which may arise when making decisions surrounding treating extremely premature babies.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, in its submission, recommended that a public debate be started around the options of "non-resuscitation, withdrawal of treatment decisions, the best interests test and active euthanasia" for "the sickest of newborns".[6] The College stated that there should be discussion over whether "deliberate intervention" to cause death in severely disabled newborn babies should be legalised; it stated that while it was not necessarily in favour of the move, it felt the issues should be debated. The College stated in this submission that having these options would save some families from years of emotional and financial suffering; it might also reduce the number of late abortions, "as some parents would be more confident about continuing a pregnancy and taking a risk on outcome".[6] In response to this proposal, Pieter Sauer, a senior paediatrician in the Netherlands, argued that British neonatologists already perform "mercy killings" and should be allowed to do so openly.[6]

The Church of England submission to the enquiry supported the view that doctors should be given the right to withhold treatment from seriously disabled newborn babies in exceptional circumstances, and the Christian Medical Fellowship stated that when treatment would be "a burden" this was not euthanasia.[6][7][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Fletcher, Joseph (1978). "Infanticide and the ethics of loving concern". In Kohl, Marvin. Infanticide and the Value of Life. NY: Prometheus Books. pp. 13–22.. ISBN 978-0879751005 
  2. ^ Appel JM (May 2009). "Neonatal Euthanasia: Why Require Parental Consent?". Journal of Bioethical Inquiry 6 (4): 477–482. doi:10.1007/s11673-009-9156-3. 
  3. ^ Verhagen, Eduard; Sauer, Pieter J.J. (2005). "The Groningen Protocol — Euthanasia in Severely Ill Newborns". The New England Journal of Medicine 352 (10): pp. 959–962. doi:10.1056/NEJMp058026. PMID 15758003 
  4. ^ "Outrage from Churches over Euthanasia on Newborns". December 1, 2004. http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_04121eut.shtml. Retrieved 2007-05-22 
  5. ^ Statement by Mgr Elio Sgreccia
  6. ^ a b c d Templeton, Sarah-Kate."Doctors: let us kill disabled babies", Sunday Times, 2006-11-05 (retrieved 05-2007).
  7. ^ "Church supports baby euthanasia - Times Online". The Times (London). November 12, 2006. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article634486.ece. Retrieved 2007-10-19. 
  8. ^ "Church enters euthanasia debate". BBC News. 12 November 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6141486.stm. Retrieved 2007-10-19. 

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Euthanasia — For mercy killings performed on animals, see Animal euthanasia. Part of a series on …   Wikipedia

  • Euthanasia in the United States — Euthanasia is illegal in most of the United States. Attempts to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide resulted in ballot initiatives and legislation bills within the United States of America in the last 20 years. For example, Washington voters …   Wikipedia

  • Child mortality — Child mortality, also known as under 5 mortality, refers to the death of infants and children under the age of five. In 2010, 7.6 million children under five died [1], down from 8.1 million in 2009,[2] 8.8 million in 2008,[3] and 12.4 million in… …   Wikipedia

  • Euthanasia device — For the fictional suicide machine, see Suicide booth. Part of a series on Euthanasia Types …   Wikipedia

  • Non-voluntary euthanasia — Severe hydrocephalus. Infants like this can be subject to non voluntary euthanasia in the Netherlands if the parents and doctors decide it is the best choice for their child. In other jurisdictions, the doctors involved may be prosecuted …   Wikipedia

  • Animal euthanasia — This article is about mercy killing of non human animals. For compassionate death in humans, see Euthanasia. Part of a series on Euthanasia …   Wikipedia

  • Involuntary euthanasia — Part of a series on Euthanasia Types Animal · C …   Wikipedia

  • Declaration on Euthanasia — Part of a series on Euthanasia Types Animal · C …   Wikipedia

  • Infanticide — is the practice of someone intentionally causing the death of an infant. Often it is the mother who commits the act, but criminology recognises various forms of non maternal child murder. In many past societies, certain forms of infanticide were… …   Wikipedia

  • Action T4 — This poster (from around 1938) reads: 60,000 Reichsmarks is what this person suffering from a hereditary defect costs the People s community during his lifetime. Fellow citizen, that is your money too. Read [A] New People , the monthly magazine… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”