From the WT Call for debate on infant euthanasia
Nov. 6, 2006 at 9:25AM
Britain’s Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has called for debate on whether to allow euthanasia of severely disabled newborns.
The college says there is some support for the move by some parents, medical ethicists and geneticists, Britain’s Independent reports.
In a request to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, the college says active euthanasia should be considered for the overall benefit of families, who would otherwise suffer years of emotional and financial stress.
“A very disabled child can mean a disabled family,” the college writes in its letter to the council.
“We would like the working party to think more radically about non-resuscitation, withdrawal of treatment decisions, the best interests, tests and active euthanasia,” the letter says.
In the Netherlands, active euthanasia of newborns is allowed in certain instances such as severe cases of spina bifida.
Dr. Pieter Sauer, co-author of the Netherlands’ guidelines for infant euthanasia, says British medics are already carrying out mercy killings and should be allowed to do so in the open.
Let’s just call it what it is: infanticide.
