The circumstances surrounding the deaths of identical twins in Belgium, who were reportedly euthanized at their own request, are perplexing, tragic, and deeply disturbing. This article will present five examples of puzzling aspects of this case. As previously mentioned, the unnamed 45-year-old brothers were born deaf, informed that they would go blind, and, as many accounts described it, “chose death as they were unable to bear the thought of never seeing one another again.”
The first item on the list is: The physician who administered the euthanasia described the men’s deaths as serene and content, despite the fact that the procedure was wholly unnecessary. The Daily Mail’s James Rush and Damien Gayle provided a report on the matter.
“They were very happy. It was a relief to see the end of their suffering,” Dr. David Dufour, of Brussels University Hospital, told RTL television news after the brothers decided to die in “full conscience” in December.
“They engaged in a cordial exchange of ideas over coffee in the hallway,” Dufour observed.
“Subsequently, the separation from their parents and sibling was conducted in a tranquil and graceful manner,” he added. Finally, the children waved goodbye and departed.
One might inquire as to the veracity of this assertion. A cup of coffee, a brief discussion about the meaning of life and death, a brief wave to their parents and brother, and then they were gone. One might inquire as to the thoughts of the parents during this event. One might inquire as to the fate of the brother. What, if any, arguments were presented to dissuade the men from taking their own lives?
The second item on the agenda is as follows: In a post published yesterday, Wesley Smith drew attention to a crucial aspect of the situation that had not been addressed in the dozen or so highly sympathetic accounts that I had read. The first physician the men consulted indicated that he would not perform the requested procedure. Consequently, they merely sought out alternative medical practitioners until they found one willing to perform the requested act. Wesley’s overarching point is that this is precisely what occurred when Oregon initially legalized assisted suicide and may still be the case, although we are unable to ascertain this with certainty due to the fact that Oregon no longer provides the relevant information.
In his analysis of the situation in Oregon, Wesley aptly refers to it as “pure Kevorkianism.”
“In other words, the patient’s treating doctors had said no, and so the patient consulted a death doctor–pure Kevorkianism–usually referred by the assisted suicide group Compassion and Choices.”
The third item on the list is as follows: A number of countries have legalized assisted suicide, which typically involves the “patient” ingesting a lethal concoction or suffocating themselves to death. The Daily Mail reported that euthanasia, or the active involvement of another party in the termination of life, is legal under Belgian law if the individual making the decision can make their wishes clear and is suffering unbearable pain, according to a doctor’s judgment. (Additionally, the Netherlands permits euthanasia for individuals as young as 12 years of age.)
The case of these two men, however, is described as “unique” or “unusual,” as neither twin was suffering from extreme physical pain or was terminally ill. They expressed sadness at the prospect of being separated from one another, given that they had lived together all their lives. Had we been informed in advance, we would have empathized with their distress and, like the initial physician, would have advised them that this was not a sufficient rationale for ending their lives.
The fourth item on the list is as follows: The acceleration of the process of extending the practice of euthanasia is accelerating. Currently, euthanasia is only permitted for individuals over the age of 18. However, the Daily Mail reports that “just days after the twins were killed, Belgium’s ruling Socialists tabled a legal amendment which would allow the euthanasia of children and Alzheimer’s sufferers.” The draft legislation proposes the extension of the law to minors who are capable of discernment or who are affected by an incurable illness or suffering that cannot be alleviated.
“Suffering that cannot be alleviated.” It is reasonable to posit that at some point in their lives, all individuals have experienced suffering that they were unable to alleviate.
It seems unlikely that this legislation will be enacted. It seems likely that the proposed changes will be approved by other parties, although no date has yet been put forward for a parliamentary debate.
The fifth item on the list is as follows: The United States has effectively legalized abortion on demand, and each year, we must contend with campaigns to expand the practice of assisted suicide. This evidence suggests that we cannot assume a position of moral superiority. Nevertheless, it is evident that the European approach to the so-called “culture of death” is markedly different from that of the United States. This divergence is so pronounced that it is difficult to comprehend.
In other words, the ostensible “protections” that we are consistently assured are in place are severely compromised in Belgium, yet few seem to draw any meaningful conclusions from this. In a previous analysis, Dr. Peter Saunders highlighted several examples of euthanasia in practice. These examples illustrate the reality of euthanasia in Belgium. In his written work, he posited that
- A significant proportion of euthanasia nurses in Belgium have admitted to carrying out euthanasia without consent. This is despite the fact that involuntary euthanasia is illegal in Belgium and that nurses are not permitted to perform even voluntary euthanasia.
- In Belgium, approximately 45% of all cases of euthanasia are not reported to the Federal Control and Evaluation Committee. It was found that legal requirements were more frequently not met in unreported cases than in reported cases. Furthermore, a written request for euthanasia was absent in 88% of cases.
- A recent study conducted in the Flemish region of Belgium revealed that 66 of the 208 cases of euthanasia (32%) occurred without a prior request or authorization.
Despite these developments, the Belgian government is poised to extend the right to euthanasia to younger and younger individuals. It is imperative to recognize the experiences of these men and those who did not request assisted suicide when advocates advocate for the legalization of assisted suicide. This is a pivotal moment in the evolution of assisted suicide legislation, with potentially far-reaching implications.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
