Euthanasia of detainee: granting a prisoner's request

Abstract

In September 2014, a Belgian national, Frank van den Bleeken, was granted euthanasia while detained on psychiatric grounds. This was the first time a detainee has been granted the right to die and therefore this case has caused much public debate. Van den Bleeken was never convicted of murder and rape; instead the court found he was insane and hence could not be held accountable for the crimes he committed.