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Netherlands euthanizes child under 12 in first case since major law change
New York Post • • world
Key Points:
- A terminally ill child under 12 was euthanized in the Netherlands for the first time since the 2024 law change allowing euthanasia for severely ill children aged 1 to 12, marking a significant development in the country’s assisted dying legislation.
- Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans confirmed the child’s death last year but withheld specific details; prosecutors will now determine if the doctor involved acted legally under the Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act.
- The law permits euthanasia only for patients experiencing unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement due to medical conditions, with strict safeguards including parental consent for children under 12 and consultation with independent doctors.
- The Netherlands, the first country to legalize euthanasia in 2002, reported over 10,000 assisted deaths last year, mostly involving elderly patients with serious illnesses, while euthanasia remains illegal in the UK after a recent bill failed in the House of Lords.
