Half of Belgian euthanasia deaths are involuntary

Some rather baffling news about euthanasia comes from Belgium – where euthanasia has been legal since 2002 -- in two articles in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The articles themselves are not yet available, but the press releases are disturbing. From two studies based on anonymous questionnaires, the following information was gleaned: (1) About one death in 25 in Belgium is euthanasia. (2) 2% of all deaths occur after an explicit request to a physician. However, 1.8% -- almost the same number – occur without a request. BioEdge