Belgian court acquits 3 doctors in landmark euthanasia case

Belgium is among a few countries that allow doctors to kill patients at their request, and one of two that allow it for people with a mental illness.

Out of about 2,000 euthanasia cases a year in Belgium, very few are permitted for psychological issues. The criminal complaint by the family was only granted on appeal after it was first rejected by a lower court.

It was something that riled the defense lawyers, some of whom thought there were conservative political forces at work to bring the case to the court where a citizens' jury would rule on the case.

"This is relief for all doctors who have to carry out such tough tasks," said defense lawyer Walter Van Steenbrugge. "If this would have gone the other way, so many doctors would have been in real deep trouble," he said, implying few would want to risk assisting in euthanasia if it meant that they could face manslaughter charges.

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Even if the two-week court case laid bare sloppy procedures by some doctors and imperfections in the law, it did in the end protect the principles of the practice.

"People will continue to hold on to the right of a dignified death when death is inescapable," Thienpont said.