Pandora Dewan is a Senior Science Reporter at Newsweek based in London
Pandora joined Newsweek in 2022 and previously worked as the Head of Content for the climate change education start-up
ClimateScience and as a Freelance writer for content creators such as Dr
She is a graduate in Biological Sciences from the University of Oxford
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either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter
or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources
Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content
An investigation has been launched in Belgium after two nurses allegedly suffocated their patient with a pillow
The incident reportedly took place after a doctor failed to successfully administer palliative sedation to the patient in March 2022
was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2021
the 36-year-old was in so much pain that she asked to be put to rest
Her doctors reportedly agreed to administer palliative sedation
a medical practice that induces an absence or decrease in awareness in order to end intolerable pain and suffering at the end of one's life
The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative medicine states that palliative sedation does not usually alter the timing or mechanism of a patient's death as it is most commonly used during very advanced stages of a terminal illness
said that he and their 15-year-old daughter were asked to wait on the terrace outside while her doctor administered the palliative treatment
"Afterwards we saw her lying on the bed with her eyes and mouth open."
and one of the nurses reportedly admitted to using a pillow to suffocate the patient after the treatment had been unsuccessful
French-language newspaper La Meuse reported
but apparently there were too few toxins," Stulens said
said that they did not believe it was an act of malice
Wattiez's nurses had gotten to know her well over the time that she had been in their care and could not bear to see her in pain after the sedative treatment was unsuccessful
The doctor claims to have been out of the room when the alleged suffocation took place
but Molders-Pierre says the family's motives are not solely to receive compensation: "Their goal is not to demand sanctions but to provoke a debate and that this type of affair never happens again."
"Could you imagine that your mother or your wife could end up suffocated by a cushion as part of her end of life
I think no one can conceive and imagine that," the lawyer said
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Violent protests and clashes between demonstrators and police erupted in the suburbs of Liège over the weekend after a 31-year-old driver was shot and killed by police on Friday
The first demonstrations took place on Friday night after the 31-year-old…
either observed and verified directly by the reporter
The first demonstrations took place on Friday night after the 31-year-old was shot dead by the police while driving a quad bike in the afternoon in Oupeye
CategoriesCategoriesEnglishGENERALDeath of 22-year-old shot by police sparks violent protests in Liège20 August 2023
Demonstrators clashed with police in Liège at the weekend following the death of a young man shot by police
A 22-year-old driving a quad bike was shot dead by police on Friday afternoon in the commune of Oupeye
According to the Liège public prosecutor's office
the victim had driven his quad bike into a police officer after the officer had ordered him to stop
another officer drew his weapon and fired at the driver
Protests soon broke out and spread to nearby Herstal
and several windows were smashed in nearby buildings
public property and even private property," said mayor Jean-Louis Lefèbvre
and we have not registered any injuries on either side."
An assessment on Sunday morning listed damaged bus shelters
overturned and burnt glass recycling bins and damaged street furniture
A primary school was also severely affected
firefighters from Liège had to be called out twice to extinguish various fires
meetings have been scheduled between all the relevant authorities to assess the situation and take the necessary precautions for the coming days
Liège province © BELGA PHOTO LAURENT CAVENATI
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