ASL Interpreted News, Deaf Twins choose death over blindness

Me Interpreting CNN News

original news story available here:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2013/01/16/pkg-mann-euthanasia-twins-in-belgium.cnn

Eddy and Marc Verbessem; Identical twins;

Inseparable in life; and in death.

The Belgian brothers lived together in a village near Antwerp

Already born deaf, the twins found out 18 months ago

they were both slowly going blind

suffering from a genetic form of glaucoma

[Doctor speaking in Dutch] Translator: Their physical condition was rapidly deteriorating

and they became increasingly dependent on their parents

and they were afraid that their parents would die

before they did.

They did not want to lose their parents

and end up being alone

Newsreader: In all likelihood, in an institution

The 45 year old twins had communicated with each other using

sign language.

The thought of losing their sight

with no way to converse

was too much

After talking to several psychiatrists

they sought legal permission to be euthanised

an option their parents initially resisted

A neighbour says she understands the decision

[Neighbour speaks in Dutch] Translator: I think it is good

If you don't have anything else anymore in life

If you can't see, can't hear, and can't speak

what else can you do?

and they both had it

Newsreader: Despite the fact that their illness was not terminal

After a lengthy search for a willing doctor

the brothers' request was granted

by then they had their familys support

and on December 14th, doctors at a hospital in Brussels

gave both men a lethal injection

The doctor who oversaw the euthanasia says

it was a weight off the brothers' shoulders

[Doctor speaks in dutch] Translator: They were happy and cheerful

We had coffee in the cafeteria and everything went well

Finally they spoke to the hospital chaplain which meant a lot to them

It was very helpful and reassuring

they said goodbye to their parents and to their brother

and then they waved at us and that was the end of it

Newsreader: Belgium is one of a handful of countries

where euthanasia is legal

But the twins' case has reignited debate

over whether it really should be

Jonathan Mann, CNN, [indiscernible]

[music plays]