Belgian murderer wins right to die
Print Edition
A BELGIAN murderer and rapist serving a life sentence is to be allowed to die by lethal injection next Sunday following a ruling under laws in Belgium permitting people to request euthanasia, local media reported.
Frank Van Den Bleeken, who has argued that he had no prospect of release since he cannot overcome his violent sexual impulses, will be granted his wish for medically assisted suicide in a prison in Bruges, Belgium.
He has said he wants to end years of mental anguish.
“Euthanasia will indeed be implemented,” a spokeswoman for Belgian justice minister Koen Geens told Belgian daily De Morgen. “The time has come.”
The justice ministry was not immediately available for comment but it was reported in September that the ministry had given its consent but had yet to set a date.
The judicial ruling was the first involving a prisoner since the euthanasia law was introduced 12 years ago.
Belgium, like the rest of the European Union, does not have a death penalty.
Van Den Bleeken, aged 51 and in prison for nearly 30 years, had complained of a lack of therapy provided for his condition in Belgium and therefore he preferred to die.
Belgium is not the only European country to provide a right to die but has pioneered the application of the law beyond the terminally ill.
Cases which attracted international attention included the euthanasia of two deaf men, twins, who were in the process of also losing their sight and of a transgender person left in torment by an unsuccessful sex change operation.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
