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Research

Reporting of euthanasia in medical practice in Flanders, Belgium: cross sectional analysis of reported and unreported cases

BMJ 2010; 341 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c5174 (Published 05 October 2010) Cite this as: BMJ 2010;341:c5174

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Euthanasia and the insatiable demand for organ donation.

In this paper it was reported that, "the estimated total number of
cases of euthanasia in Flanders in 2007 was 1040" (1). "Between 1995 and
2000, the number of prevalent ESRD [end-stage renal disease] patients in
Dutch-speaking Belgium [Flanders] increased from 3,624 to 5,252... For the
same period, the incidence increased from 120 to 170 pmp (+41%). The
kidney transplantation prevalence rate was 380 pmp in the year 2001, an
increase of 78% over 6 years" (2).

Euthanasia has, therefore, the potential to meet demands for kidneys
for transplantation especially if families are permitted to be euthanized
together, as Dignitas has proposed, according to a report in today's news.
What an incredibly dangerous and slippery ethical path that could be
especially with the successes reported with reanimation following cooling.
Indeed reanimation from cooling threatens to make the definition of death
far more complex than it is today and possibly impossibly complex. In such
an event those with ESRD could be forced into accepting dialysis as their
only option. Given the success of transplantation that in turn could fuel
a dangerously immoral black market for transplantation. That should never
be allowed to happen.

1. Reporting of euthanasia in medical practice in Flanders, Belgium:
cross sectional analysis of reported and unreported cases
Tinne Smets, Johan Bilsen, Joachim Cohen, Mette L Rurup, Freddy Mortier,
and Luc Deliens
BMJ 2010 341:c5174; doi:10.1136/bmj.c5174.

2. Belgium's mixed private/public health care system and its impact
on the cost of end-stage renal disease
Wim Van Biesen, Norbert Lameire, Patrick Peeters, Raymond Vanholder.
www.dopps.org/d.../pdf/VanBiesen-ISHCOF-Belgium-2007.pdf

Competing interests: Christian.

19 October 2010
Richard G Fiddian-Green
FRCs, FACS
None
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