Lifenews.com reports, in “American College of Pediatricians Blasts Belgium for Legalizing Child Euthanasia,” on and posts the statement by the ACP critical of Belgium’s new euthanasia law which puts no lower limit on the age of euthanasia. The Netherland’s law allowing infant euthanasia is also considered.
Physicians are healers not killers. An individual’s future quality of life cannot be predicted by caregivers. The role of the physician is to promote health, cure when possible, and relieve pain and suffering as part of the care they provide. The intentional neglect for, or taking of, a human life is never acceptable, regardless of health system mandates. The killing of infants and children can never be endorsed by the American College of Pediatricians and should never be endorsed by any other ethical medical or social entity.