The Netherlands has reported its first euthanasia case involving a child under 12, under a new law that took effect in 2024 and allows the procedure in exceptional cases of terminal illness and unbearable suffering. Health Minister Sophie Hermans told parliament that the case occurred in late 2025.
Officials did not release the child’s exact age, medical condition, or any identifying details, citing privacy. Under the law, euthanasia may be approved for children under 12 with incurable illness when doctors conclude there is no chance of recovery and the suffering is unbearable, with the decision made together with the parents and medical team.
As in all Dutch euthanasia cases, the file has been sent to prosecutors and to a special oversight committee, which will examine whether the doctors met all legal and ethical requirements. The committee has already spoken with the treating physician and is expected to publish its findings later.
The Netherlands legalized voluntary euthanasia for adults in 2002, the first country in the world to do so. The law was later extended to minors aged 12 and older, and in 2024 was further expanded in rare extreme cases for younger children, especially those with severe congenital diseases, rare metabolic disorders, or terminal conditions where death is expected soon and no curative treatment exists.
