The Netherlands has reported its first case of child euthanasia since the law was updated two years ago. According to a letter from Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans to parliament, the child died last year but no further details were provided.
The Netherlands' euthanasia law was updated in 2024 to include children under the age of 12 in a state of unbearable pain or suffering, allowing them to "die with dignity." The law only applies in exceptional and extreme circumstances, and euthanasia is only allowed for patients whose suffering has a medical dimension.
For the procedure to happen, a doctor must convince authorities that euthanasia is appropriate and that there is no other humane option. Officials are especially vigilant when applying the legislation to young children, and prosecutors will now decide whether the doctor involved in the case acted legally.
The Netherlands is the second country to legalize doctor-assisted deaths for children, following Belgium, which has allowed the procedure since 2014. The Netherlands was also the first nation in the world to legalize euthanasia under strict conditions in 2002, with all cases subject to medical review boards.
Last year, 10,341 deaths by assisted suicide or euthanasia were reported in the Netherlands, with about 85% of cases involving patients battling illnesses such as cancer and lung disease. Only one child, between 12 and 18, died from euthanasia, and three in every four cases involved people over 70.
