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Subject Deaf twin brothers killed by euthanasia in Belgium after discovering they were going blind

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A very sad and depressing tale. I would never second guess or judge people in such situations harshly. I've witness numerous tragedies in my life of people who should have been allowed to die with some dignity rather than live but under horrible conditions. Children with no arms or legs...soldiers and others with 3rd degree burns over 905 of their bodies, missing limbs, one young man lost ALL his limbs...I don't understand why it's so wrong to just help these poor folks die with some dignity at the time of their injuries. It's the far more humane thing to do than just keeping them alive just because it's technically possible, or even that they're used as guinea pigs.
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Not everybody with a serious disability wants to die.  Some find purpose in life and are an inspiration to others.  There can be undue pressure on these people from both sides of the issue.

And what about advances in technology.  What if both the blindness and or deafness can be corrected in the near future with new treatments.  Was that looked into or were they considered worth the effort?  Maybe so, but I would be curious to know.

see link below about this man.  A lot of people would say his life has no value.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=man+born+without+arms+and+legs&view=detail&mid=C2A3CB4B35E58F847491C2A3CB4B35E58F847491&first=0&qpvt=man+born+without+arms+and+legs
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Technological advances are remarkable and miracles sometimes do happen after all hope has been lost, but at what point should the decision be left up to the individual? Why should a person be denied the liberty to choose a painless death instead of waiting for a cure or miracle that, in all likelihood, will never come? I think that euthanasia to escape terminal illness ADDS value to life because it allows a person to die with dignity, with their memory intact. The process of dying is hard to watch and even harder to experience I can imagine. Why force an ill person to experience that if their choice is to end their own life peacefully?
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Just theoretically speaking, it seems you are making a logical argument. "Theoretically", that is.  Real life application often differs.

In my personal opinion, I have no desire to interfere with anybody's free will in what they decide to do.

I do have concerns about the medical community becoming involved in this practice and in what direction it would lead "in reality"...not in just debating it.

The potential for abuse is so big...In fact, it is so big, I don't see how abuse can be avoided.

Sure, there will be strict guidelines in the beginning, but as time passes, they will surely be relaxed little by little.  I just don't see it leading to anywhere but a darker place where eventually, people are coerced, or perhaps even misled in order to "get them out of the way".

You may think that sounds ridiculous now, but you'd be amazed how dramatically attitudes can change in short spans of time.  Just look at the difference in attitudes today vs. 20 years ago on a multitude of issues.  Why would this be different?
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Original Message [link to www.dailymail.co.uk]

A pair of identical twins, who were born deaf, have been killed by Belgian doctors after seeking euthanasia when they found out they would also soon go blind.

In a unique case under the country's euthanasia laws, the 45-year-old brothers, from Antwerp, chose death as they were unable to bear the thought of never seeing one another again.

They were euthanised by doctors at Brussels University Hospital, in Jette, on December 14 by lethal injection after spending their entire lives together.

The two brothers, who have not been named but were pictured on Belgian television, both worked as cobblers and shared a flat together, The Telegraph has reported.

David Dufour, the doctor who presided over the euthanasia, told RTL television news the twins had taken the decision in 'full conscience'.

He said they were 'very happy' and it had was a 'relief' to see the end of their suffering.

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