[REVISION HISTORY]

Euthanasia regulation and implementation in the Netherlands

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What changed

2026-09-28 12:13 UTC → 2026-09-28 17:26 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Dutch authorities have validated the first case of euthanasia for a child under the age of 12 following the expansion of the law in 2024. The case involved a child under two years old who died in late 2025 due to severe, incurable pathologies, including brain damage, cerebral palsy, and treatment-resistant epilepsy. A review commission determined the physician acted with ‘due care,’ concluding that the child’s condition made survival into adulthood impossible and that no medical intervention could alleviate the suffering. The Commission for Late Abortion and Life Termination in Newborns and Children noted that the child’s motor abilities, behavior, and personality were severely altered with no prospect of improvement. Further details indicate the child was born prematurely at 26 weeks and also suffered from visual impairments and respiratory and swallowing difficulties. While alternative palliative medications were attempted, they reportedly caused further side effects. Under current regulations, euthanasia for children aged 1 to 12 is permitted only in exceptional circumstances involving terminal illness and ‘hopeless and unbearable’ suffering where no other reasonable solutions exist. Parental consent is mandatory for the procedure. A Dutch assessment committee confirmed that the attending physician followed all legal protocols, which included obtaining parental consent and seeking a second opinion from independent experts. While initial medical reviews suggested alternative palliative options, a subsequent assessment determined that the child’s suffering was unbearable and without prospect of improvement. The child’s developmental age was estimated to be only six weeks.

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