Dutch doctors euthanise child under 12 for first time – media

The measure was introduced in 2024 for young patients with no prospect of recovery.

A child under the age of 12 has been euthanized in the Netherlands for the first time, Health Minister Sophie Hermans has said, according to local media reports.

The procedure was caried out under rules introduced in 2024, which allow the nation’s doctors to end the lives of terminally ill children in exceptional circumstances. Similar measures previously applied only to newborns and those aged 12 and above.

In a letter to parliament on Monday, Hermans reportedly said that the terminally ill child’s death occurred toward the end of last year and was subsequently reported to a special review committee, which had been set up to assess such cases. The minister did not disclose the child’s age, sex, or medical condition.

The committee has reviewed the circumstances and spoken to the doctor involved, Hermans said. The findings have been sent to prosecutors, who will decide whether the procedure complied with Dutch law. The assessment is reportedly expected to be made public soon.

Under the new rules, doctors must determine that a child is suffering unbearably from an incurable illness and that no reasonable treatment options remain. Parents must also give their consent before the procedure can take place. When introducing the policy, Dutch authorities said that it was expected to apply to no more than five to ten children a year.

There was no formal policy covering children between the ages of one and 12 before. The applicable conditions often include severe congenital disorders affecting the brain, lungs, or heart, as well as metabolic diseases, according to broadcaster NOS.

The policy has proven politically contentious, with the country’s two main Christian parties coming out against it. Some medical experts have also warned that doctors could be reluctant to act because prosecutors have the final say on whether the law was followed, rather than a review committee.

In the past, doctors could provide palliative sedation or stop giving food and fluids, allowing a child to die gradually, which could sometimes take weeks.

The Netherlands became the first country to legalize euthanasia in 2002. Belgium removed age restrictions on the practice in 2014, becoming the first country to apply it to minors under certain conditions.

The Netherlands recorded over 10,000 euthanasia cases in 2025, accounting for around 6% of all deaths nationwide, according to the country’s Regional Euthanasia Review Committees.

Image credit: Chidy Young