Relationships are complex, found everywhere, among the living and allegedly the dead. The gift of existence itself is a relationship, between the creator “God” and the creation “the universe and all living things.” True, death knocks on all doors. But when and how is beyond human control; thus, can individuals decide on when and how to die? Currently, assisted suicide is a taboo topic people tend to avoid in conversations, generally due to cultural or religious views. However, the story of deaf Belgian twins Marc and Eddy Verbessem changed the hearts of many and triggered human rights activists to defend an individual’s right to die.

The Verbessem twins opted to end their lives via legal euthanasia after being informed that they were going blind. The pair were inseparable; they had lived all their lives together as cobblers in the village of Putte near the city of Mechelen. Marc and Eddy told everybody that the thought of not being able to see each other was unbearable. To them, losing their only means of communication was not an option. The twins used a unique sign language understood only by them and immediate family members.

According to The Telegraph, it wasn’t easy to find an institution that would grant them their wish. After doctors at a nearby hospital declined their request for assisted suicide, arguing that the twins weren’t suffering from unbearable pain and therefore did not meet the criteria for legal euthanasia under Belgian law. However, this law had many interpretations and eventually, after two years of searching for an institution that would help them, doctors at Brussels University Hospital in Jette were convinced by the twins argument and laid them to rest via lethal injection on 14 December last year.

This heartfelt story opened doors to many debates and arguments justifying an individual’s “right to die.” Until today, only a few nations permit assisted suicide: Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland, and the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. Recently, Marie Fleming, an Irish woman, was denied her “right to die” at Dublin’s high court even after being identified as a terminally ill patient with multiple sclerosis. According to Reuters, Judge Nicholas Kearns said “It would be impossible to ensure the aged, disabled, poor, unwanted, rejected etc would not avail of this option to avoid a sense being a burden on their families and society.”

A similar story is that of Tony Nicklinson, 58, who was paralyzed from the neck down after a stroke in 2005. He also bid to end his life by the assistance of a doctor, but was denied by the court. A week after losing his bid, the father of two died of pneumonie after refusing to eat at his home in Melksham, Wiltshire.

Today, human rights activists are defending an individual’s “right to die,” reported The International. Many argue that the Universal Declaration on Human rights, which states “the right to life, liberty, and security of person,” can have many interpretations, including the right to stop having life. Sadly enough, a person’s decision to end his/her life is always based on the relationships he/she cherishes; for instance, a lot opt for legal euthanasia simply to stop being a burden to their loved ones.

Marc and Eddy feared life more than death. They feared losing each other more than walking into the unknown. Relationships are the foundation of life, and in the case of the Verbessem twins, death too. Marc and Eddy were the first brothers worldwide to undergo double euthanasia. On the day of the procedure, they were peacefully dressed in new shoes and suits with their family around them.

Up till the last minute, their brother Dirk Verbessem tried to convince them out of it. He said, “Together with my parents, I said goodbye. Marc and Eddy waved again at us. ‘Up in the sky,’ they said. ‘Up in the sky,’ we replied. And then it was over.” The Verbessem twins were cremated and buried together in identical urns.

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Louvain La Neuve, Belgium - Treatment of Refractory Epilepsy by Vagus Nerve Stimulation will now be available in Europe. Neurotech, a Belgium based developer and manufacturer of neurostimulation devices, announces that it has obtained the European CE Mark for its ADNS-300 system dedicated to the treatment of refractory epilepsy. The surgically implanted ADNS-300 system delivers mild electrical pulses to the vagus nerve in the neck. Operating as a pacemaker, it produces stimulation towards the brain.

“Advens therapy” uses the ADNS-300 stimulator as a therapeutic option for those patients who are refractory to anti-epileptic drugs and are not eligible for epilepsy (brain) surgery. The ADNS-300 is the world’s first rechargeable neurostimulator for vagus nerve stimulation. The device includes an innovative electrode and a promising “sensing” feature that may prove to be a significant technological breakthrough in the control of response to the therapy. Patients use a remote controller and charger to turn the system on/off and to recharge the neurostimulator. “Rechargeable systems may prove to be more cost-effective, especially if surgical operations to replace batteries are avoided over time. This helps patients to maintain a more independent life, with a lower risk of potential complications associated with battery replacement surgery.”

“We are pleased to have reached this key milestone in the development of our range of our proprietary products and we are looking forward to make this therapy available to all the eligible patients of key European centers of excellence,” said Mr. Michel Troosters, CEO of Neurotech. “We are convinced that this unique, state-of-the-art medical device will prove to be an important tool in the care for patients suffering from refractory epilepsy. The sensing feature, once clinically validated, could represent a paradigm shift in the VNS field,” added Mr. Troosters. Early clinical testing of the device and its different features have shown promising results (El Tahry R, Raedt R, Mollet L et al, A novel implantable vagus nerve stimulation system (ADNS-300) for combined stimulation and recording of the vagus nerve.

The prevalence of active epilepsy is roughly in the range of 5-10 per 1.000 people according to the World Health Organization. Approximately 1/3 of epileptic patients are considered “refractory” and thus potential candidate for the Advens therapy.

“The commercial outlook of Neurotech is very attractive in Europe with diversified applications in the product pipeline. We are now ready to open the capital of the company to new investors who will position Neurotech as the world-class neuromodulation company,” according to Mr. Philippe Durieux, CEO of Sopartec and board member of Neurotech. The market launch of this new product is scheduled with a gradual roll-out to most European countries.

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The tragic act of insanity on December 13, in which a lone man attacked a Christmas-market crowd with grenades and gunfire, is all the more shocking considering its location. The Belgian city of Liège deserves a far better distinction for its historical and cultural wealth, and its friendly residents.

The city is the capital of its province, also called ‘Liège,’ located in eastern Belgium. It sits on the river Meuse, not far from Cologne in Germany or Eindhoven in the Netherlands. It is the economic capital of Wallonia, the Francophone part of Belgium, and is the third-largest city of the land, behind Brussels and Antwerp.

Although the birthplace of Charlemagne, King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor, remains a mystery, some historians suggest it was in Liège or the nearby town of Herstal; others propose it was in one of half a dozen other (German) cities.

Liège’s location so near to Germany, the Netherlands and France has been a boon to its economy and relations, but it has also placed it in the middle of heavy battles over the centuries past. In particular, the famous ‘Battle of the Bulge’ in WWII was fought around the area and principally in the nearby Ardennes (‘Ardenne’ in Belgian) forests.

There are still buildings preserved with bullet-holes from the war. Other buildings of note include many churches, the cathedral and the palace of the Prince Bishops. This last one is located on the main square, ‘Place St.-Lambert,’ named after the bishop martyred c. 700AD. This is the square in which the attacks of December 13, 2011 occurred.

The Place St.-Lambert hosts a Christmas market, among the oldest and biggest in Europe. More than one million visitors pass through each year. A third of this number visits the city mid-August for ‘The Feast of the Assumption’ (the celebration of the Virgin Mary) and the fête of ‘Tchantchès,’ a folkloric character from the 19th century.

This character has puppets, a statue and a museum dedicated to him. There are several other museums, as well as festivals and holidays to entertain. Finally, Liège also offers a superior and varied culinary experience.

Liège waffles are found all over Belgium; meatballs are particularly popular; French fries are reckoned to have been created in the Meuse valley –they are especially good here; and ‘jambonneau,’ tender leg of ham, is a popular dish –the brasserie ‘L’Industrie’ specializes in these and in mussels, another Belgian forte, both with French fries.

It must be mentioned that there are over 500 types of Belgian beer, many of which can be found in Liège –sometimes in the cooking. Belgian truffles are also easily found and enjoyed here. Liège’s accessibility and its attractions have made it a popular stop in many European travels. With luck, the recent tragedy will not dissuade people from visiting this city.

Pawel Kielpinski / Shutterstock.com

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