#EU #Netherlands – The Netherlands confirmed on Monday that it performed the first euthanasia on a terminally ill child under the age of 12, marking a significant milestone since the country expanded its assisted dying regulations in February 2024.
Health Minister Sophie Hermans disclosed the case in a letter to parliament accompanying the 2025 annual report of the review committee for late-term abortions and child euthanasia cases. The child, whose identity remained undisclosed for privacy reasons, died at the end of 2025 after suffering from a terminal condition that caused pain with no prospect of improvement.
Under the 2024 regulations, euthanasia became available for children aged 1 to 12 who are terminally ill. The law requires parental consent, assessments by multiple doctors, confirmation that palliative care cannot alleviate the suffering, and adherence to strict medical protocols. Hermans stated that the procedure in this case met all legal criteria, and the review committee found no procedural violations.
The Netherlands has long been a pioneer in euthanasia laws. It legalized the practice for competent adults and children over 12 in 2002 and later permitted it for newborns under the Groningen Protocol in cases of severe, untreatable suffering. The 2024 expansion addressed a gap for young children between infancy and age 12, affecting an estimated 5 to 10 cases per year.
Officials framed the decision as a compassionate measure to end intractable suffering. Supporters argued it aligned with the country’s emphasis on dignity in death, noting that parents and doctors had exhausted all other options. Critics, however, expressed deep concern over the ethics of ending a child’s life, with some online reactions labelling it as morally troubling or akin to historical coercive eugenics practices.
Euthanasia accounts for approximately 6% of all deaths in the Netherlands, primarily among elderly patients with cancer or other terminal illnesses. This pediatric case reignited broader debates about safeguards, consent for minors, and the boundaries of medical assistance in dying.
The Public Prosecution Service received the review committee’s findings and will determine final compliance with the law. Dutch authorities emphasized that such procedures remain rare and subject to rigorous oversight.
Image: Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Support building in The Hague.
