Tiny Footprints

When people think of euthanasia, an image of a sick elderly person is what usually comes to mind. However, previously I have discussed the Death with Dignity Bill drafted by Michael Laws, who also included a section detailing euthanasia for disabled children. This sparked a shocking realization that child euthanasia is very real. As an early childhood teacher, this does not sit all that comfortably with me. So, for this blog, I have decided to go down that dark and gloomy road so I can develop some kind of understanding and relate it to what I believe and follow as an early childhood teacher.

It seems to go against all that humans stand for. It pulls on the heart strings, thinking about killing an innocent child just because the adults who are there to protect them believe their quality of life is not worth living.



Robert Latimer with his
daughter Tracy, at home.



On October 24 1993, 12-year-old Tracy Latimer sat in the cab of a pickup truck, unable to move, as it filled with carbon monoxide fumes. Her father, Robert Latimer, put her there. Eleven days after her death, Robert confessed to killing Tracy out of compassion; a mercy killing. Tracy was born with cerebral palsy and her father felt her life was no longer worth living. Tracy was a very sick child. She was unable to feed or toilet herself. She had minimal mussel control and could not talk. Her family claimed she was in a lot of pain and so, out of love, her father did what he thought was best for his child (Corelli, 1994). This case of euthanasia shocked the country and Canada was thrown into the debate of child euthanasia. Further details emerged as the debate began to grow. Although Tracy did experience pain, evidence built up supporting Tracy’s happiness and love of life. “According to the Crown prosecutors' brief presented at the second trial, "She also responded to visits by her family, smiling and looking happy to see them. There is no dispute that through her life, Tracy at times suffered considerable pain. As well, the quality of her life was limited by her severe disability. But the pain she suffered was not unremitting, and her life had value and quality"” (Wikipedia, 2012). This caused a lot of controversy. Tracy had days where she was pain free and happy, but her father had decided her quality of life was not worth the pain. After many trials, Robert Latimer was charged with second-degree murder and sentenced ten years in jail without parole (Council of Canadians with Disabilities, 2013).

As terrible as this case may seem, child euthanasia is happening in hospitals to infants who are born with spina bifida, or other disabilities. Every year 200,000 children are born in The Netherlands and out of these babies 1000 die within their first year of life. What is most shocking is that about 600 of these 1000 babies die because a medical decision has been made regarding their quality of life (Verhagen & Sauer cited in Life, 2011). In a survey of Dutch paediatricians, approximately half of them were willing to give a child lethal drugs when they ‘requested’ them and when parents agreed. In this instance, a child is defined as any person under twelve years of age. The results of this survey worsen. More than a third of the paediatricians surveyed were willing to end the life of a child who is unconscious with the consent of their parents. Some even admitted they were still willing to give a child lethal drugs when the child ‘requested’ it even if their parents did not agree or give consent (Cote, Lerman & Todres, 2009).  The results to this survey are dreadful yet frighteningly standard in The Netherlands, where voluntary euthanasia is legal no matter who the patient is. Surprisingly, paediatricians find it ethical to euthanize a child who ‘requests’ it. It seems hard to believe a child under twelve years could comprehend the willingness to die. One could assume what the child really wants is the pain and suffering to go away. The mask of pain clouds almost everyone’s ability to make a rational decision. Giving a child the power to make this life or death decision with, or without their parents consent is dangerous and takes away the value of human life.  

If child euthanasia is happening in The Netherlands, is it happening anywhere else in the world? Sadly, it is, and in strong, influential countries, that many people would have never believed it did.  



Kerri Bruning holding her son
Dylan on the day they fed him
for the last time.



“Little Dylan Walborn, Broomfield, Colorado, was a victim of America’s “mercy-killing,” euthanasia movement.  Judged better off dead by Denver’s Children’s Hospital, Porter Hospice, a Denver social worker, Dylan's public school teachers, and the Denver Post, four-year-old Dylan was starved to death over a period of twenty-four days” (America Right to Life, 2013, para. 1). That statement alone is enough for anyone’s stomach to drop and heart to swell with sadness for this child. However, what is really shocking is the fact that Dylan’s early childhood teachers had a say in whether he should live or die; and they said he was ‘better off dead’.

Any early childhood teacher would cringe at the thought of sharing their opinion of the quality of life for a child in their centre. In New Zealand, early childhood is about empowering, learning and communicating with the child in order to develop a reciprocal relationship that helps them to grow a sense of belonging within their centre environment regardless of culture, beliefs, age, or ability. Our curriculum, our policies, our philosophy, our values, and our morals go against what Dylan’s teachers suggested. Children like Dylan, who have cerebral palsy or other diseases are supported and welcomed into centres. Negative judgements are never passed, but instead their individuality is embraced. Early childhood teachers do not look at what the child cannot do, but look at what the child can do, encouraging them to build on their skills and knowledge through their interests. It is managements job to “ensure that training is available to enable the adults who work with children...have the knowledge and skills necessary to support the children’s learning and development” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p. 27).  Therefore, children with disabilities are supported by teachers who understand their disability, and are able to support and encourage them within a centre environment. The Māori concept of aroha encompasses aspects that New Zealand early childhood teachers believe. “A person who has aroha for another expresses genuine concern towards them and acts with their welfare in mind, no matter what their state of health...it is the act of love that adds quality and meaning to life” (Barlow, 1991, p. 8). Children with disabilities are embraced and treated as equals despite their need of special care. Their disability does not define them. Although there were many other factors in Dylan’s case, most New Zealand early childhood teachers, would never suggest to a parent that they should euthanize their child; whether they were invited to give an opinion or not.

However, the New Zealand education system is not perfect. The Ministry of Education are currently reviewing the way education providers are financially supported when it comes to educating special needs children. However, “the review is not looking comprehensively at services and support in early childhood education settings” (Ministry of Education, 2013, para. 4).  This contradicts what early childhood educators strive to achieve. Somewhere along the line, the government has forgotten how important a child’s early years are for their holistic development, regardless of their abilities.

Children like Dylan, and Tracy, do have limited means to enable them to live life to the full. However, their disability is all they know. They were born with cerebral palsy. That was the life they were given, and that life was taken away without their real knowing or consent. They suffered further pain as a result of their parents actions.

After reading their cases and understanding them fully, some will see why Tracy and Dylan were euthanized and may empathize with the parents. Others may read the same, and feel resentment towards the parents and sympathise with the child. Either way, a voice-less child was killed and cases like these are what cause intense debate over child euthanasia.  

References

America Right to Life. (2013). Children’s hospital euthanizes 4 year old. Retrieved from http://americanrtl.org/hospital-euthanizes-4yr-old.

Barlow, C. (1991). Tikanga Whakaaro: Key concepts in Māori culture. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

Corelli, R. (1994). Mercy on trial. Maclean’s, 107(47), 48. Retrieved from MasterFILE Premier database.

Cote, C., Lerman, J., & Todres, I. (2009). A practice of anesthesia for infants and children (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Sauders Elsevier.

Council of Canadians with Disabilities. (2013). The Latimer Case: The Reflections of People with Disabilities – Chronology. Retrieved from http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/humanrights/endoflife/latimer/reflections/chronology.

Life. (2011). Infant euthanasia. Retrieved from http://www.life.org.nz/euthanasia/euthanasiamedicalkeyissues/infant-euthanasia/.

Ministry of Education. (2013). Introduction. Retrieved from http://www.minedu.govt.nz/theMinistry/Consultation/ReviewOfSpecialEducation/DiscussionDocument2010/Introduction01/Introduction.aspx.

Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He Whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mōkopuna o Aotearoa/Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.

Wikipedia. (2012). Robert Latimer. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Latimer.