Read our policy and vision on palliative care and euthanasia here.
The vision and policy regarding palliative care can be found on the webpage about our Palliative Care.
We prepared this information page and brochure as a tool to help you reach your own well-considered opinion about the end of life and euthanasia.
cf the legislation in force, neither the hospital nor the ethics committee may impose or enforce a view on this.
According to Belgian law euthanasia means: termination of life by a doctor on the request of the sick person and subject to certain conditions.
We therefore only speak of euthanasia when the patient himself requests the termination of his life.
Everyone has the right to put the request for euthanasia to a doctor.
This does not mean that your request will be honoured, but it does mean that it must be discussed in full. The law gives the doctor the right (not the obligation!) to honour a euthanasia request. No one other than a doctor may perform euthanasia. Only the doctor, who will perform the euthanasia, decides whether to grant your request.
You must have legal capacity and competent to consent.
Euthanasia for non-terminal patients is permitted by law, subject to two additional conditions:
Children, regardless of their age, may request euthanasia, provided that a child psychiatrist or a psychologist can adequately verify that the minor has the required judgemental capacity to understand what a request for euthanasia entails.
A request for euthanasia must be made in writing. It must be personally written and signed by the applicant.
If you can no longer write yourself, then someone else, who does not benefit from your death, must put your request in writing, stating the reason why you cannot do so yourself and in the presence of your attending physician. The writer states his name, national register number and the date and has the request co-signed by the attending doctor.
In the case of a minor, the written consent of BOTH parents or their guardian is additionally required. In addition to the doctor, psychological assistance should also be provided.
This means you can request euthanasia in case you are in an irreversible coma.
The prior living will must be signed and dated by the applicant and 2 witnesses. A confidant may also be appointed. This ensures that, in the event of an irreversible coma, the doctor and care providers are informed of the existence of the living will.
This living will can be registered with the government and must not be older than 5 years at the time the applicant becomes incapacitated. In addition, it does not guarantee that the euthanasia will be performed. The situation will be checked against the legal criteria and the living will is discussed.
A prior living will cannot apply to children.
You may at any time, orally, reconsider your decisions. In that case, the written request will be deleted from the medical file.
You can make adjustments to or withdraw your living will. This possibility is also provided for in the pre-printed models.
Euthanasia can be performed at home, in a care facility or in hospital.
Other persons may be present in addition to the performing doctor. These can be family members, friends, but also other caregivers. However, this will not be possible without your permission.
The doctor gives, via a previously punctured drip in the vein, one or two products that make you sleep. Then the doctor administers medication that stops your breathing, causing you to die. You will not feel this because you will already be asleep due to the first drug.
In the case of a child, it is mandatory that a child psychiatrist or a psychologist is contacted, who has no connection with the doctor, patient or family.
This person has to certify in writing that the child is sufficiently competent to judge, after inspection of the medical file and other steps. A negative opinion is binding and irrevocably halts the euthanasia procedure.
If you need an additional talk about this topic, please ask your treating physician. The people from the palliative support team can also assist you in a conversation on this subject.
