First child under 12 dies by euthanasia after Netherlands expands assisted-dying law
A child under the age of 12 in the Netherlands has become the first to die by euthanasia since the country widened its assisted-dying rules to include children between 1 and 12 years old.
The child was seriously ill, according to reports, though officials did not release further information about the illness or the child’s exact age. The case was confirmed by Dutch health minister Sophie Hermans, who said the death took place last year. She disclosed it while presenting parliament with the annual report on late-term abortions and medically assisted deaths involving children.
The change in the law took effect in 2024. It allows assisted dying for children younger than 12 in extremely limited circumstances, when it is considered the only remaining way for a child to die with dignity and escape unbearable suffering.
Under the Dutch government’s rules, ending a child’s life is permitted only when the child is terminally ill, experiencing unbearable suffering, and has no prospect of improvement. The suffering must involve constant and severe pain, with no cure available and no reasonable alternative that could ease the child’s condition, including palliative care.
In such a situation, the doctor may make the decision together with the parents. The child must also be involved in the consultation if that is possible.
Before the procedure can happen, the doctor has to show that euthanasia is appropriate and that no other humane option remains. The decision is not left unchecked after it is made.
A special review committee examines whether the doctor acted with the required level of care, using accepted medical standards and current medical knowledge. The committee includes four doctors with relevant specialist backgrounds, along with a lawyer and an ethicist.
After reviewing the case, the committee sends its findings to the Public Prosecution Service. Prosecutors then decide whether the doctor complied with the law.
The child’s death marks the first known case under the expanded rules for children below 12, bringing new attention to one of the most sensitive areas of Dutch assisted-dying policy: cases involving terminally ill children whose suffering cannot be relieved by any available treatment.
