Will Belgium Attract Death Tourism?

As I have previously discussed, Belgium became the first country to lift all age restrictions on euthanasia.  Terminally ill children in Belgium can now request euthanasia if they are near death and suffering from “constant and unbearable physical” pain with no available treatment. 

There is now speculation that Belgium may become a new destination for “death tourism.”  Opponents of the law argue Belgium has opened its doors to death-seeking visitors, much like Switzerland.  Belgian legislators counter that the long and complicated process of requesting euthanasia will not permit such tourism.

 See Cecilia Rodriguez, Will Belgium’s Legalized Child Euthanasia Trigger Death Tourism?, Forbes, March 6, 2014.