Deaf twins euthanized after learning they were going blind

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A pair of 45-year-old deaf twins in Beligum decided to commit assisted suicide when they learned they were going blind.

Brothers Marc and Eddy Verbessem were born deaf, but were able to lean on each other in their lives and work. They were devastated to learn they both had an incurable condition that would leave them unable to see or communicate with one another, Belgian VTM News reported.

The Verbessems, with the support of their doctors, decided to go forward with plans for euthanasia. Belgium is one of only two countries where assisted suicide is legal.

"Physically, their conditions were strongly deteriorating," Dr. David Dufour told VTM.

Dufour told RTL television station that the brothers were surrounded by family when they received lethal injections on December 14.

"They had a cup of coffee in the hall", he said. "It went well and [was] a rich conversation. Then the separation from their parents and brother was very serene and beautiful. At the last, there was a little wave of their hands and then they were gone."