Deaf Belgian Twin Brothers Choose Euthanasia Over Blindness

Marc and Eddy Verbessem, 45, were born deaf. They were inseperable all their lives, living and working together, and used a sign language that only they and their family could understand.

When they were told they were also both about to go blind due to a genetic form of glaucoma and would no longer be able to see each other in addition to other health problems (Eddy had a deformed spine and heart issues), they decided they preferred to die than lose their ability to communicate with each other and maintain their independence.

Euthanasia has been legal in Belgium since 2002, though almost all cases were people who were suffering unbearable physical pain and/or terminal illness. The fact that the twins in this case were neither was unique, and as such they had some trouble finding a place that would assist them. They perservered for almost two years until they found a willing institution to perform the procedure.

Their older brother Dirk, 46, said that the family objected initially and had tried to talk them out of it but were eventually persuaded by the brothers' arguments, and relented.

The family was with them and bid a "serene" goodbye to the brothers when the time came. The presiding doctor said they had a cup of coffee in the hall and a rich conversation, and the twins were "very happy".

Their brother said Marc and Eddy waved at the family and signed, "Up in the sky," to which they replied, "Up in the sky." And then they were gone.