Netherlands Admits Euthanizing Child Under Age 12

The Netherlands has carried out the euthanasia of a child younger than 12 years old, marking a troubling milestone in the expansion of assisted suicide practices in Europe, according to Washington Examiner.

Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans disclosed the case in a report submitted to the national Parliament on Monday. The child was euthanized late last year following what authorities described as severe illness. Hermans confirmed that the case was forwarded to a review committee established when the Netherlands legalized euthanasia for children under 12 approximately two years ago.

As required under Dutch law for all euthanasia cases, details of the procedure have been submitted to the public prosecution service. Prosecutors will now examine whether the attending physician adhered to the legal framework governing the euthanasia of minors.

The review committee has interviewed the doctor who recommended the child’s death and will share their conclusions with legal authorities. A public report on the case is expected to be released soon.

The Netherlands continues to expand its use of assisted suicide, with the practice increasingly applied to individuals who fall outside traditional categories for end-of-life intervention. Last year alone, the country euthanized nearly 10,000 people, representing a dramatic 60 percent increase compared to the prior year. Assisted deaths now account for almost 6 percent of all deaths nationwide.

Under current Dutch regulations, euthanizing a child under 12 requires that the child be incurably ill, experiencing unbearable suffering, and expected to die in the near future. Parental consent is mandatory.

Before 2024, euthanasia was permitted only for newborns and children aged 13 and older. Children between 1 and 12 could be allowed to die through the withdrawal of food and water while under sedation.

Assisted suicide has emerged as one of the most divisive cultural and political issues across Europe and North America. Countries including Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland, and Canada have implemented assisted dying programs in recent years.

The expansion of euthanasia laws has drawn international scrutiny. Last week, Noelia Castillo, a 25-year-old woman who survived multiple sexual assaults and a suicide attempt that left her paralyzed, was euthanized near Barcelona after receiving approval under Spain’s assisted suicide law.

A leaked United States government cable to Spain following Castillo’s death expressed serious concerns about Spain’s application of euthanasia legislation, particularly in cases involving psychiatric conditions and non-terminal suffering. Spain enacted its right-to-die law in 2021.

With information from Washington Examiner