An incurably ill child under the age of 12 has been euthanized in the Netherlands, marking the first case since the country's euthanasia law was expanded in 2024 to include this age group. Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans confirmed the death in a letter to parliament, but provided no further details about the child's gender, age, date of death, or specific illness, according to Dutch broadcaster NOS.
Law expanded in 2024 for children under 12
The Netherlands updated its euthanasia law in 2024 to allow children under 12 who are in a state of unbearable pain or suffering to receive doctor-assisted death, enabling them to "die with dignity." The law applies only in exceptional and extreme circumstances. According to the Dutch government website, "Euthanasia is only allowed for patients whose unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement has a medical dimension. This can be the case with somatic diseases such as cancer or cardiovascular disease, but also with psychiatric disorders, dementia or multiple geriatric syndromes." The government explicitly notes that euthanasia is not permitted "in cases where a person is 'finished with life' or deems their life to be 'completed.'"
Approval process for child euthanasia
Prior to the 2024 change, euthanasia in the Netherlands was only permitted for newborns and children over 12. Patients under 18 require consent from a parent or guardian. For the procedure to proceed, a doctor must convince authorities that euthanasia is appropriate and that no other humane option exists. Officials apply extra vigilance when the patient is a young child. Prosecutors will now decide whether the doctor involved in this case acted legally, Hermans added, though a review committee has already examined the case and spoken with the physician. When the law was expanded two years ago, government ministers estimated the change would apply to only five to ten children per year, stating, "The end of life for this group is the only reasonable alternative to the child's unbearable and hopeless suffering."
Netherlands second country to allow child euthanasia
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 the first nation worldwide to legalize euthanasia under strict conditions in 2002, with all cases required to be reported to medical review boards. In 2025, 10,341 deaths by assisted suicide or euthanasia were reported in the Netherlands, according to the Regional Euthanasia Review Committees. Approximately 85% of cases involved patients with illnesses such as cancer and lung disease. Only one child between 12 and 18 died from euthanasia last year, and three in every four cases involved people over 70.
