The Dutch Government to officially sanction euthansia

Back in January 2005 I preached a sermon called "The Groningen Protocol and Modern Day Herods." What is the Groningen Protocol? It was the proposal developed by doctors in the Netherlands for the establishment of an "independent committee" charged with selecting babies and other severely handicapped or disabled people for euthanasia." One newspaper described it in this way:

Under the Groningen protocol, if doctors at the hospital think a child is suffering unbearably from a terminal condition, they have the authority to end the child’s life. The protocol is likely to be used primarily for newborns, but it covers any child up to age 12.

The hospital, beyond confirming the protocol in general terms, refused to discuss its details.

"It is for very sad cases," said a hospital spokesman, who declined to be identified. "After years of discussions, we made our own protocol to cover the small number of infants born with such severe disabilities that doctors can see they have extreme pain and no hope for life. Our estimate is that it will not be used but 10 to 15 times a year."

A parent’s role is limited under the protocol. While experts and critics familiar with the policy said a parent’s wishes to let a child live or die naturally most likely would be considered, they note that the decision must be professional, so rests with doctors.

Well, now the Groningen Protocol is about to become law. Read Al Mohler's latest blog in which he accurately asserts that "the Culture of Death takes a great leap forward with this move -- the first time a government will have adopted an official policy for the killing of infants."