krellin, this has nothing to do with abortion.

This is an extension of euthanasia (which is currently legal in Belgium for adults) to children who request it.

Stop with the bullshit

Sure it does...abortion is getting rid of the unwanted human in the womb. Euthanasia is getting rid of the unwanted human post-birth.

Both are equally dismissive of the value of life.

And obviously it has nothing to do with abortion per-se...other than the shared devaluation of human life. Good lord...lighten up PE.

Muting is getting rid of unwanted posts.

Actually it wasn't the socialist government that passed the law. The Christian-democratic party, which is part of the majority voted against, and the large right-wing nationalist opposition voted in favor of the law.

In Belgium there was hardly a discussion. There's a huge consensus on euthanasia. Only the christian-democratic party, and a couple of pro-life members of parliament are against.

@PE - After reading over it though. it doesn't just have to be at the "patient's" request. The whole dementia thing makes it sound like a person who has power of attorney could have it done for, say, a newborn with a disability. It is ripe with abuse possibilities base don my admittedly limited knowledge.

By the way, start reading some decent articles. The one you've linked is very biased and simply rubbish.

Also, the law makes euthanasia possible on the request of the minor, not the parents'. So the comparison with abortion is bullshit.

So aborting a profoundly disabled fetus is OK, but killing a profoundly disabled newborn is controversial?

What a strange world this is sometimes.

@Invictus, form my view, neither is acceptable, but if I had to choose, the new born is, well, *born*. You can't argue it isn't a human life when it is no longer inside momma and can cry and feel pain and everything else.

What about the day before it's outside momma? Birth is an arbitrary distinction now that medical technology is where it is.

All abortion is a good idea.

You should need a permit from both the government and your neighbors before being allowed to have children.

Yeah, why bother with pesky ideas like individual liberty these days.

PE / 2WL - thanks for your *valuable* input. Exactly what I would expect from the peanut gallery

If you listen to, for example, Peter Singer this has everything to do with abortion - it is its logical extension.

@Invictus - Why stop at "profoundly disabled". Walk through any inner city and I'm certain You will find a great number of unwanted children who are a burden on society, whom have already started a lifeof crime, who statistically speaking will never contribute anything of value to society, who are at best a burden to society, and are most likely a dangerous menace. Off with their heads, right?

What is the difference between the burden of caring for a disabled child, and a criminal?

As I said, Invictus, I'd rather neither be the case. I'm pro life from beyond the first trimester. I'm not Putin33 who believes that partial birth abortions are OK. You've got three months to decide in my book. If you decide after that time you don't want the kid, then put it up for adoption, because your actions and your decision to wait that long means you tacitly accept being an incubator for another 6 months.

I often hear scientist types express ideas like YJ's. I'm always amused at the very ahistorical presumption that they (of course) would be among those who got favored and were in charge of making the decisions.

I am for the happiness of every child and youth in Asia.

'What about the day before it's outside momma? Birth is an arbitrary distinction now that medical technology is where it is.'

agreed. The only difference is one of the mother's rights, there might be some question that giving birth will risk the mother's health or life... in rare cases it may be medically necessary to euthanise a baby the day before it was due.

This is different from an abortion at the mother's request, as a doctor must decide that something is medically necessary - this may include complications such as a brain dead baby who will not survive outside the mother.

@Krellin: 'What is the difference between the burden of caring for a disabled child, and a criminal?' - i presume you actually support capital punishment, so i'm not sure what you're getting at. Though it is certainly not a life-affirming 'social programs' to include people as you've clearly stated in several places that taking money from the rich is theft... or similar statements.

Yeah, medical necessity is the one acceptable beyond the first trimester in my opinion. And a brain dead baby is a dead baby already.

At Draug with you all the way on that first trimester. Only we need to firm up on whether we are talking about conception or the date of the first missed period. The pro-choice lobby mean the former.

Well, doctors can tell the progress of the fetus, but to give the mother a break, I'd grant up to 18 weeks. (a month or so beyond first trimester).

@Orath - who ever said anything About “social programs”. Having trouble keeping to the topic? Or just like to go out of your way to make useless points off-topic?

Medical exemptions are open to serious abuse and often lead to a nod and a wink approach to abortion. Of course genuine cases do occur and I am not sure what the answer is. However, maybe it is time to source some alternative medical referees other than those shrill advocates we now have?

Haha semck I was totally not serious. I was doing my Putin33 impersonation.

I mean, tbh I find the concept somewhat interesting, but it's impractical, ridiculous, and intrusive.

@Orath - I specifically stated the burden to society of youth that are already down the path to life-long criminal, who are unwanted by families, who have already commited crime, and by all statistical probability will simply be a burden on society (i.e. incarceration interrupted by brief periods of "freedom" until they commit another crime).

I'm not talking "Capital Punishment" for "capital crimes". I'm talking about euthanizing the "unwanted burdens"

Gee officer Krumpky, I done it again...