A gravely ill child was euthanized in the Netherlands, becoming the first person under 12 years old to benefit from this procedure.

The Netherlands has recorded its first case of euthanasia for a child under 12 years old, according to a statement from the Minister of Health, Sophie Hermans.

Until 2024, euthanasia was only permitted for newborns and individuals over 12 years old, provided they were suffering unbearably and had no chance of improvement. Recently, the Dutch parliament has expanded the legislation to include children under 12, allowing them to "die with dignity" in extreme cases.

This decision has sparked controversy, given that some critics argue that children cannot fully assess the implications of such a decision. Euthanasia, regulated in the Netherlands since 2002, now accounts for over 5% of total deaths in the country.

In comparison, Belgium removed the age limit for euthanasia in 2014, having had six cases of euthanized children since then.