In the Netherlands, for the first time, euthanasia was performed on a child under the age of 12, in line with regulations that have permitted the active termination of life for patients aged 1 to 12 since 2024. This concerns terminally ill children who suffer in a way deemed impossible to alleviate. The information was reported by the Polish portal Dorzeczy.
However, despite the existing regulations, this high-profile case has reached the public prosecutor’s office. As stated by Dutch Minister of Health Sophie Hermans, a euthanasia report was submitted to a special committee tasked with evaluating such cases. The body reviewed the documentation and spoke with the physician involved in the procedure.
At present, the committee’s opinion has been forwarded to the prosecutor’s office. Investigators will now determine whether the doctor acted in accordance with the law. Authorities have not disclosed any details about the child. It remains unknown how old the child was, their gender, or what illness they suffered from.
Journalists note that, under the rules, euthanasia may only be applied to children whose death is expected in the near future. The regulation applies to cases involving severe congenital defects of the brain, lungs, and heart, as well as serious metabolic diseases.
Opponents of the procedure argue that it concerns children who are unable to express their own will independently. Some experts have pointed out that the final assessment of each procedure lies with the prosecutor’s office rather than a medical committee, which could create a fear of criminal liability.
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