Netherlands Records First Under-12 Euthanasia Death Since 2024 Law Change
Updated
Updated · DutchNews.nl · Jun 23
Netherlands Records First Under-12 Euthanasia Death Since 2024 Law Change
3 articles · Updated · DutchNews.nl · Jun 23
Summary
A child under 12 died by euthanasia in the Netherlands at the end of 2025, the first such case since the law was expanded two years ago.
Health Minister Sophie Hermans told parliament the case has been sent to the review committee and the public prosecution service, which routinely checks whether doctors met legal safeguards.
Dutch rules allow euthanasia only when suffering is unbearable with no prospect of relief; for children under 12, parents must consent and doctors must find no treatment remains.
Lawmakers had expected about five under-12 cases a year after the change, while euthanasia accounted for roughly 6% of all deaths in the Netherlands last year.
After its first child euthanasia, will the world see Dutch law as compassionate or as a dangerous precedent?
How can doctors truly measure a child's 'unbearable suffering' to justify a decision as final as euthanasia?
Netherlands Reports First Euthanasia Case for Child Aged 1–12: Examining the 2024 Law’s Impact and Controversy
Overview
In 2026, the Netherlands reported its first confirmed case of euthanasia involving a child aged 1-12, following the 2024 expansion of its euthanasia law to include this age group. The case underwent a rigorous review process: a medical committee examined the circumstances and interviewed the doctor, then referred the case to the public prosecution service to ensure all legal and 'due care' criteria were met. Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans confirmed these steps, highlighting the transparency and strict oversight applied to such sensitive cases, and marking a significant moment in the practical application of the new law.