from Right to Life
…despite doctors initially saying reasonable alternatives remained
A two-year-old child has died by euthanasia in the Netherlands, the first case of a non-infant child under 12 dying by euthanasia, despite independent doctors initially concluding that the child was “not continuously suffering unbearably” and that reasonable alternatives remained.
The child died by euthanasia at the end of 2025, which was revealed by a letter to the Dutch parliament from Health Minister Sophie Hermans in June. Infant euthanasia has been practised in the Netherlands for many years, as before a recent law change, only newborns and children over twelve could die by euthanasia. However, this was the first time that a non-infant child under the age of 12 had died by euthanasia in the country.
Before the child’s life was ended, the doctor consulted independent doctors from outside his region of practice.
These other doctors concluded that “the child was not continuously suffering unbearably”, according to the Review Committee on Late-term Abortions and Termination of Life of Neonates and Children aged under 12.
The Review Committee revealed that the other doctors believed “there were still reasonable alternatives, such as palliative options and other medications that could possibly result in better control of the epileptic seizures”.
Despite this, the child was later euthanised after the doctor sought a further second opinion from another doctor, who concluded that the requirements for ending the child’s life through euthanasia had been met.
The Review Committee later found that the doctor had complied with the applicable due-care requirements.