A doctor in the Netherlands has ended the life of a terminally ill young child, in a first for the country. Health Minister Sophie Hermans confirmed the news in a letter to the House of Representatives.
The case is the first under a regulation for children aged one to 12 that came into force in 2024.
Before that regulation, life termination was only possible for two age groups; newborns up to one year old, or children aged 12 and over.
Children in the one to 12 bracket fell into a legal gap. They were considered too young to make the decision themselves, so the option simply wasn’t available to them.
What the 2024 regulation actually allows
The 2024 regulation lets a doctor end a child’s life in consultation with the parents. This applies only to children aged one to twelve.
The conditions are tightly drawn. The child must be suffering unbearably with no prospect of relief, and be expected to have only a short time left to live.
As NOS reports, the children covered by the rules often have congenital conditions affecting the brain, lungs or heart, or metabolic diseases.
Before the regulation existed, doctors had two options. They could offer palliative sedation, or stop giving the child food and drink so the child would gradually die. That second process can sometimes take weeks.
Why this case is so sensitive
The rules were politically fraught from the start. They concern children too young to make their own decisions, which sets this group apart from older children and adults, who must request euthanasia themselves.
Some medical experts also voiced doubts. One concern is that doctors might fear prosecution, since the final verdict on whether they acted lawfully rests with the Public Prosecution Service (OM), not the review committee.
In this case, the committee has examined what happened and spoken with the doctor involved. Its judgement has now been passed to the OM. The OM must decide whether the proper procedures were met.
According to NU.nl, the cabinet expected the rules to apply to five to ten children a year when the policy came in.
What happens next
The review committee’s binding advice is set to be made public soon, though Hermans has not given a date.
For now, the details stay private. Her letter does not reveal the child’s age or illness.
READ MORE | Push for euthanasia laws to be relaxed further in the Netherlands
The Netherlands legalised euthanasia for adults in 2002. Paediatricians then pushed for clear rules covering younger children for years before the 2024 change arrived.
How do you feel about where the Netherlands has drawn the line? Share your thoughts in the comments.
