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Lawmakers in Belgium have passed a bill that will allow euthanasia for [terminally / terminal] ill children. The bill was passed with 86 votes for the motion, 44 against, and 12 [absentees / abstentions] . It becomes the first nation to allow euthanasia for children. Belgium's [controversy / controversial] law applies only to terminally ill children who are in great [pain / painful] . There are several [conditionals / conditions] that must be met for any act of euthanasia to take [places / place] . The child must be in full possession of his/her [mental / mentally] skills and request the act themselves. It requires an adult's [consent / consensus] and the written approval of a medical team, who must [commit / submit] a psychological report. In addition, there must be no treatment available that would alleviate the child's [suffer / suffering] and distress.

The law has created a [storm / tempest] of opposition worldwide. Opponents called it [immoral / immortal] and said children were not [nature / mature] enough to make [such / much] a decision. One man present at the vote stood up and [screaming / screamed] "murderers" at the lawmakers. The Christian Science Monitor makes the [base / case] that: "In the 21st century, when parents the world [over / under] worry that children are growing up too quickly, Belgium is [poised / poisoned] to hand kids one more responsibility." It adds that: "Allowing children, who aren't even old enough to drive or vote, to decide when it's time to die is one [step / stair] too far." Last week, 160 Belgian paediatricians claimed the law was unnecessary because modern medicine could [alleviation / alleviate] pain.