Euthanasia Act is 20 years old. Mario was the first to use it
About 2,500 euthanasia files are now registered every year.
Mario Verstraeten from Geluwe was the first Belgian to use it 20 years ago. He had been suffering from MS, an incurable disease of the nervous system, for almost 10 years. Mario was partially paralyzed and in a lot of pain. He had waited for the new euthanasia law and chose to die in the fall of 2002. We spoke to him on May 28, 2002, the day the law was ratified. He then told us why he is such a strong supporter of the euthanasia law.