Netherlands Euthanizes Child Under 12 for First Time

A terminally ill child under the age of 12 has been euthanized in the Netherlands for the first time since the country expanded its assisted dying rules to include young children.

Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans confirmed the child died last year, calling the patient “incurably ill,” but she did not reveal the child’s exact age, diagnosis, or other identifying details.

The case is now being reviewed by prosecutors, who will determine whether the doctor who carried out the euthanasia followed the law.

The death marks a major and deeply controversial milestone for the Netherlands, which has long been at the center of the global debate over assisted dying.

The Dutch government changed its rules in 2024 to allow euthanasia for severely ill children between the ages of 1 and 12 in extremely limited cases. Before that, euthanasia was already legal for babies under 1 and children over 12, but children between those ages could not be euthanized under the same framework.

Officials said at the time that the change would apply only to a tiny number of children — estimated at roughly five to 10 cases — who were suffering unbearably with no hope of recovery.

“The end of life for this group is the only reasonable alternative to the child’s unbearable and hopeless suffering,” the government said when the rule was introduced.

Under Dutch law, euthanasia is only allowed when a patient’s suffering is considered unbearable and there is no prospect of improvement. The suffering must have a medical basis and can involve serious physical diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, psychiatric disorders, dementia, or multiple age-related conditions.

The government has stressed that euthanasia is not allowed simply because someone feels they are “finished with life” or believes their life is “completed.”

Doctors must follow a strict checklist before ending a patient’s life. They must be convinced the patient is not under pressure, that the suffering is unbearable, and that there is no reasonable alternative. They must also inform the patient about their condition, consult an independent physician, and handle the case with due care.

For children under 12, parental consent is required.

The rules are different for older minors. Children between 12 and 15 must have parental or guardian consent, while 16- and 17-year-olds must have their parents or guardians consulted, though their permission is not required.

Doctors who break the law while performing euthanasia can face up to 12 years in prison, along with possible fines.

The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia under strict conditions in 2002. Every case must be reported to medical review boards.

Last year, 10,341 assisted suicide or euthanasia deaths were reported in the Netherlands, according to the country’s Regional Euthanasia Review Committees. That was a 3.8% increase from 2024.

Most cases involved older patients. About 85% were people suffering from illnesses such as cancer and lung disease, and three out of four cases involved patients over the age of 70.

Only one teenager between 12 and 18 died by euthanasia last year.

Belgium has also allowed doctor-assisted death for children of all ages since 2014.

The Dutch case comes as assisted dying remains fiercely debated around the world. In the United Kingdom, a bill that would have allowed terminally ill adults in England and Wales to choose to end their lives failed in the House of Lords, despite support from elected lawmakers.

Now, the Netherlands’ first known euthanasia case involving a child under 12 is likely to reignite the explosive debate over where compassion ends — and where the law should draw the line.