Euthanasia for children?

Any thought of child euthanasia seems quite shocking on first instinct. However, Belgium forced a flow of international discussion through its extension of euthanasia laws to suffering patients of any age. This essay looks at its possible application in New Zealand, considering the competence of minors, the need for parental consent (or not) and issues of mental suffering. A final conclusion is drawn that euthanasia, if legalised, would be appropriate only for patients 16 years and over. This essay draws analogies with the law around consenting to other medical procedures, abortion, transgender treatment and contraception. For patients under the 16 age threshold, paediatric palliative care is convincingly the safest and most comprehensive option to assist young terminally ill children and their family through the final stages of life.