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Palliative Care
How can palliative care be increased in a country that allows euthanasia?
In Belgium, palliative care is provided in a variety of settings (hospital, home, nursing home) in response to the demand of many patients to be able to choose where they receive this specific care. However, reports published by the Federal Centre of Expertise for Health Care (KCE) in recent years...
Abortion
Live births after late-term abortion are no exception
In Quebec, induced abortions during the second trimester of pregnancy result in a live birth more than one in ten times (11.2%). Of these live-born fetuses, one in ten survives more than 3 hours. These are the findings...
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
Euthanasia in Ontario: over 400 breaches of the euthanasia law result in only reminders of the law
Between 2018 and 2023, more than 400 criminal offences involving euthanasia were recorded in Ontario. In 2024, doctors revealed this figure to the press, highlighting the facts contained in various reports from the...
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
Organ donation after euthanasia: Altruism to mask utilitarianism?
The 10th ‘Sympadot’ symposium, organised on 21 November by the Transplantation Department of Brussels University Hospital (Erasme), focused on organ donation and transplantation. Among the topics discussed was the...
Fertility and Pregnancy
Natural Fertility Awareness Methods: Empowering Couples with Greater Autonomy
Long overshadowed by contraception, particularly the pill since the 1960s and 1970s, natural fertility awareness methods are experiencing a resurgence. This is largely due to increasing awareness of the health and environmental impacts of hormonal contraceptives. On November 15, a conference in Leuven brought together experts in fertility awareness to...
Abortion
Prof. emeritus Dr. Bernard Spitz: “Abortion: between fundamental right and crime against humanity”
Prof. emeritus Dr. Bernard Spitz is a physician and professor emeritus at the Catholic University of Louvain, where he taught obstetrics and medical ethics. Dr. Spitz is the (co-)author of “Quand vous perdez une...
Surrogacy
Italy recognizes surrogacy as a “universal crime”: symbolic measure or first step towards a global ban?
On October 16, 2024, the Italian Senate voted to extend the criminalization of surrogate motherhood to include the “crime of surrogate motherhood committed abroad by an Italian citizen”. From now on, Italian nationals...
Parentage and Access to Origins
Access to origins: Belgian law deems gamete donor anonymity unconstitutional
In a ruling handed down on September 26, 2024, Belgium's Constitutional Court ruled that legislative provisions which absolutely prevent a child born from a gamete donation from obtaining any information from the...
In the spotlight
All the newsNews
Extending euthanasia to include mental health conditions: will Canada have a change of heart?
Genetic modification of human embryos: a gateway to eugenics?
France: Will the government force through the euthanasia bill?
Bereavement leave in the event of euthanasia: will it be possible to change one’s mind?
Belgium – Proposed liberalisation of abortion laws: 12, 14 or 18 weeks – a scientific question or an ethical choice?
Belgium: care for people with disabilities under scrutiny from the UN
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