Belgium

Overview

Belgium legalized euthanasia in 2002, the same year as the Netherlands. In 2014 Belgium became the first country in the world to extend euthanasia to minors with no minimum age, provided they are terminally ill, in great pain, and have parental consent.

Psychiatric conditions and non-terminal chronic suffering can also qualify under Belgium's law, making it one of the most expansive frameworks globally.

Eligibility Requirements

• The patient must be in a medically futile condition of constant and unbearable physical or mental suffering that cannot be alleviated
• The condition must be serious and incurable (not necessarily terminal)
• The request must be voluntary, considered, and repeated — not from external pressure
• The patient must be conscious and competent at the time of the request
• A second physician must be consulted; if the condition is non-terminal, a third specialist or psychiatrist is required
• Minors: must be terminally ill, in great physical pain, competent, and have parental consent

The Process

• Patient submits a written request to their physician
• Physician assesses eligibility and consults a second independent doctor
• For non-terminal cases: one month waiting period between written request and euthanasia
• Physician reports each case to the Federal Control and Evaluation Committee on Euthanasia (FCECE) within 4 days
• The FCECE reviews every case; non-compliant cases are referred to prosecutors

Statistics

• Approximately 3,500–4,000 reported cases per year
• Cancer is the most common underlying condition
• Psychiatric-only cases represent a small but visible percentage
• Very few minor cases have occurred since the 2014 extension

Key Organizations & Resources

• Federal Control and Evaluation Committee on Euthanasia (FCECE)
• LEIF (Life End Information Forum — Flemish)
• ADMD Belgium (Wallonia/Brussels)
• Belgian Federal Public Service Health — health.belgium.be

Legal Contacts

• Federal Control and Evaluation Committee on Euthanasia (CFCEE) — Reviews all reported euthanasia cases for legal compliance and publishes biannual statistical reports to the Belgian Parliament.
• Recht op Waardig Sterven (RWS) — Flemish patient-rights association providing information on end-of-life options, advance directives, and legal guidance. rws.be
• ADMD Belgium — Association pour le Droit de Mourir dans la Dignité — French-speaking Belgian association promoting the right to die with dignity; provides guidance and membership support. admd.be

Medical Contacts

• Orde van Geneesheren / Ordre des Médecins (Belgian Order of Physicians) — Regulates physicians who perform euthanasia and maintains the national ethical code. ordomedic.be
• Federatie Palliatieve Zorg Vlaanderen — Federation for palliative care in Flanders; connects patients with specialist palliative teams across the region. palliatieve.be
• Fédération Wallonne des Soins Palliatifs — French-speaking palliative care federation serving Wallonia and Brussels; provides referrals and support for patients and families.

Important: Contact details and eligibility requirements change. Always verify information directly with each organisation before taking any action.