Ten vulnerable people in Belgium are believed to have been killed “illegally” by euthanasia.  Belgian officials in the city of Leuven are investigating the deaths.

Michael Robinson, SPUC Director of Communications said: “Belgium has some of the most lax and brutal euthanasia laws in the world. So, it is not surprising that this country’s euthanasia law should be exploited, resulting in the tragic deaths of ten people.”

The Public Prosecutor in Belgium has stated that they were ‘tipped off’ by an anonymous letter describing one family’s “traumatic” experience after doctors, who were identified in the letter, euthanised their relative and failed to inform them of the death.

The letter stated: “Our family member passed away two years ago, and we were told that euthanasia was presumed to have been carried out without the doctors informing us or following the necessary procedure. This is a very traumatic experience for us.”

The Public Prosecutor is now investigating a further nine euthanasia deaths believed to have been performed illegally.

Euthanasia in Belgium

Euthanasia laws were introduced in Belgium in 2002.

The country has been described as having some of the world’s most lax euthanasia laws which are not restricted to the terminally ill or to adults, as children and people with psychiatric conditions are also eligible to be killed there.

Last year, 2,655 Belgians were killed by euthanasia. Since the country opened euthanasia up to minors in 2014, four children are known to have been killed by lethal injections.

SPUC’s Mr Robinson added: “The worsening situation in Belgium is an example of the ‘slippery slope’ in operation.

“Here in the UK, we cannot make the same mistake. We must oppose every move to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide. That would be a tragic step towards creating a culture where people feel their best option in life is to die.”