Mercy killing

    安乐死

    比利时一名十七岁临终病患接受了安乐死，2014年该国取消了安乐死适用病人的年龄限制。请看本报昨日的报道：

    A terminally ill 17-year-old has become the first minor to be euthanized in Belgium since age restrictions on such mercy killings in the country were lifted in 2014, it was learned Saturday.

    "The euthanasia has taken place," said Jacqueline Herremans, a member of Belgium's federal euthanasia commission.

    She added that the assisted death had taken place according to Belgian law.

    Wim Distelmans, head of the euthanasia commission, gave no details of the minor involved beyond saying it was an exceptional case of a child with a terminal illness, the Het Nieuwsblad newspaper reported.

    报道中的mercy killing就是“安乐死”，另一种说法是euthanasia，动词是euthanize。“安乐死”指患不治之症的病人由病人自己和亲友要求，经医生认可，让病人在无痛苦状态下结束生命。