A new book on euthanasia and assisted suicide in Belgium has just (April 2013) been published in France.
In the first part of the book, its Belgian author, Alain Canneel, describes his wife’s battle with cancer and her final release by euthanasia.
The second part of the book explores the legal and political aspects of the decriminalisation of euthanasia in Belgium, compares Belgian experience with that in other countries and examines the lacunae in the Belgian framework and the debate on reform.
This book, originally written to inform the current debate in France, has been translated into English in order to make it available to a wider public, in an adapted and slightly abridged version, which, by the kind permission of the author, may be downloaded here.
The book is available by post or at FATE meetings for £5.00 (including UK postage and packing) or please contact us.
I highly recommend this book to anybody interested in wanting to be in control of their own death when life becomes no longer tolerable, whether wishing to end it by assisted dying, assisted suicide or euthanasia. It is a moving account of a death put into the context of the law in Belgium and other countries and well worth reading.
Libby Wilson, Convener and Medical Adviser
