dr. marc van hoey. doctor, how many euthanasias have you performed yourself? >> more than 100 in 12 years time, i think. >> reporter: dr. van hoey is a general practitioner and president of one of the leading right-to-die organizations in belgium. he's helped shaped the country's policy toward euthanasia which can be requested by patients who meet two basic conditions: they are experiencing "constant and unbearable" suffering, either mental or physical; and their condition is "incurable." and then patients must put their request in writing. >> only thing you have to write down is your name, the date and "i want euthanasia," and signature. >> reporter: in the few american states with laws on the books allowing this, patients must take the life-ending drugs themselves. >> i will die upstairs in my bedroom they share with my husband. >> reportrr like terminal cancer patient brittany maynard who recently went to oregon to end her life. but in belgium, it's the doctor who must administer the lethal dose, usually an injection. >> i start with a narcotic drug in a hig