Opinion No 90 -  Funerary destination of foetuses stillborn at an early stage of pregnancy

Opinion No 90 of 8 December 2025 on the funerary destination of foetuses stillborn at an early stage of pregnancy  

This opinion addresses the funerary destination of stillborn foetuses with a gestational age of less than 180 days, in a context in which practices and parental expectations have evolved significantly. It sets out the medical, legal and ethical framework, as well as the differences between the regional regulations in Belgium on the disposal of human remains. The Committee emphasises that the applicable legislation does not allow the foetus’s remains to be handed over to the parents for burial in their private garden. From an ethical perspective, several principles are taken into account: autonomy, respect for human dignity, the general interest, precaution, care, solidarity and the relational dimension.

After analysing the possible answers, the Committee advocates a systematic refusal of such requests, on the grounds of the general interest, the coherence of the regulatory framework, the risks to public health and the social implications, and in order to safeguard a public framework that ensures a dignified and equal treatment of human remains.

Opinion by Letter No 20 – New Forms of Burial

Published on June 25, 2025, Opinion by Letter No 20 concerns new forms of burial.

Opinion No 87 – Burial Policy by Municipalities for Persons Considered Indigent

On 22 April 2025, the Belgian Advisory Committee on Bioethics publishes its Opinion No 87 concerning the burial policy by municipalities for persons considered indigent and/or socially isolated.

Opinion No 82 - Status of human remains

What is the status of human remains in public and private collections?

Opinion No 82 of 9 January 2023 on the status of human remains in museum, scientific and private collections

Opinion No 79 - New forms of burial

Opinion No 79 of 8 November 2021 on new forms of burial