Belgium parliament passes bill approving euthanasia for terminally ill children

The Belgium Parliament has passed a bill, allowing euthanasia for terminally ill children without any age limit.

The law was backed by 86 votes to 44, with 12 abstentions.

When the bill is signed by the king, Belgium will become the first country in the world to remove any age limit on the practice, the BBC reports.

In the Netherlands, Belgium's northern neighbour, euthanasia is legal for children over the age of 12, if there is parental consent.

According to the report, the law states a child should have to be terminally ill, face unbearable physical suffering and make repeated requests to die - before euthanasia is considered.