Belgian church says euthanasia law is being 'abused to kill people without consent'

The Belgian Catholic Church has warned that physicians are abusing the country's euthanasia law to kill people without reasonable consent.

Auxiliary Bishop Jean Kockerols of Mechelen-Brussels lamented that patients are being euthanized without legal checks and safeguards, prompting concerns from church officials, as well as other doctors and medical professionals.

The Belgian church's Cathobel news agency released an article on Jan. 9, asserting that the Federal Euthanasia Control and Evaluation Commission had violated its statutes by not referring suspected legal abuses for investigation.

"It's shocking that, 15 years since its creation, this commission has not referred a single file to prosecutors or condemned a single doctor," the report stated, according to Catholic News Agency.

"It is acting as judge and jury, and not fulfilling its role. It isn't broadening application of the law, but violating it," it continued.

The report claims that the commission, led by Dr. Wim Distelmans, has reportedly failed to prosecute doctors despite public complaints and sufficient evidence of malpractice.

The commission is required to verify that euthanasia deaths adhere to the procedures written into law and refer suspected violations to a state prosecutor within two months.

One example cited in the report was that of a 38-year-old woman who requested euthanasia after her boyfriend broke up with her. After meeting with three doctors, the woman was subsequently diagnosed with autism and euthanized two months later.

The woman's two sisters had complained that the doctors had not explored other forms of treatment and reported the violations to the Euthanasia Control Commission.

The report further noted that a member of the commission recently stepped down after the case of a dementia patient who was killed without consent was not referred to prosecutors.

Kockerols contended that the commission's willful failure to follow the procedures mandated by the current euthanasia law is an open secret.

He further stated that the church has known for a long time that the commission was "not working as it should," and noted that the bishops would support any measure that would ensure that "it functions as it's supposed to."

"We're against euthanasia in every form, and the Church's official position is well known," Kockerols told Catholic News Service.

Data from the Health Ministry has indicated that euthanasia deaths have been increasing by 27 percent annually since it became legal in 2002.

The bishop expressed concern that public support for euthanasia in Belgium remains widespread, especially in the Flemish-speaking regions, but he noted that it was important the "moral dangers" were better recognized.

"Even if there's little chance for now of legal changes, the Church can work on a moral and pastoral level with medical staff and support critical voices," he said.

"We've been discussing tougher application of church rules to those who endorse euthanasia. But we also have to be prudent, considering each situation with its nuances," he added.