Can I request euthanasia?
Yes, euthanasia is legally possible in Belgium, but only by a physician and under strict conditions. Under the law of 28 May 2002, you can request euthanasia if you make a voluntary, considered and repeated request, and you are in a medically hopeless situation of constant and unbearable physical or psychological suffering that cannot be relieved, resulting from a serious and incurable condition. The requester is an adult (or emancipated, or a minor with capacity of discernment, under stricter conditions). The physician consults a second independent physician; if your death is not expected in the short term, a third physician is involved and a one-month waiting period applies. You can also make an advance declaration in case you later become irreversibly unconscious (coma) — it has been, since 2 April 2020, valid for an indefinite period. No physician is obliged to perform euthanasia, but must refer you if they refuse. This is a sensitive topic; your (family) doctor can inform and support you properly.
📋 The rules
- Legally possible by a physician under the law of 28 May 2002
- Conditions: a voluntary, considered and repeated request and constant, unbearable physical or psychological suffering from a serious, incurable condition
- The requester is an adult or emancipated, or a minor with capacity of discernment (stricter conditions since 2014)
- A second independent physician is consulted; non-terminal: third physician + one-month waiting period
- Advance declaration for a future irreversible unconsciousness — valid indefinitely since 2 April 2020
- No physician is obliged; on refusal, a duty to refer applies
🔓 Exceptions
- The advance declaration only applies to irreversible unconsciousness (coma), not to dementia while you are still conscious
- An extension to advanced dementia is under discussion, but is not in force as of July 2026
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Within the legal conditions, euthanasia is not an offence and the death counts as a natural death. The physician sends a registration document to the Federal Control and Evaluation Commission within 4 working days; the Commission can refer non-compliant files to the prosecutor. This is a sensitive topic; for any questions you can turn to your (family) doctor or a trusted person, who can inform and support you properly.
📎 Official sources
- FPS Public Health · euthanasia →
- ejustice · law of 28 May 2002 (euthanasia) →
- ejustice · law of 15 March 2020 (indefinite validity of the advance declaration) →
❓ Frequently asked
Who can request euthanasia?
An adult or emancipated person who is conscious and competent, or a minor with capacity of discernment under stricter conditions. The request must be voluntary, considered and repeated.
What suffering qualifies?
Constant and unbearable physical or psychological suffering that cannot be relieved, caused by a serious and incurable condition. For psychological suffering, extra caution rules apply.
What is an advance euthanasia declaration?
A declaration for the case where you later become irreversibly unconscious (coma). It has been valid indefinitely since 2 April 2020. It does not apply to dementia while you are still conscious.
Must a physician perform euthanasia?
No, no physician is obliged to. A physician who refuses must tell you in time and refer you to a centre or another physician, and transfer your file.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “euthanasia conditions belgium”
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- “euthanasia law 2002”
- “euthanasia psychological suffering”