Euthanasia in Belgium. A son's story

Tom Mortier

Godelieva De Troyer had been suffering from chronic depression for twenty years. The family was unaware when she was euthanised by a doctor who co-chairs the federal euthanasia regulator and who co-founded a euthanasia organisation that De Troyer had just given money to.'

Tom Mortier hadn't given much thought to Belgium's euthanasia laws. He didn't think they affected him. Tom is a university professor in Belgium, where he has lectured since 2006. For Tom, it seemed that if a person wanted to die, who are we to stop him? Why can't that person simply make that choice? Besides, it doesn't affect anyone else.

'Tom's perspective changed forever one day when he received a phone call. The caller was from a hospital, letting him know that he needed to take care of his mother's affairs since she had been euthanized.'

To read more about Tom's story, visit ADF International's 'Affirming Dignity' campaign.

More articles about Tom and his mother's death:

• Europe's top human rights court will hear case of depressed Belgian woman who died by euthanasia (Link).
• Depressed mother died by euthanasia, her son challenges the law (Link).
• Belgian euthanasia promoters attack man whose depressed mother died by euthanasia (Link).