The Netherlands approved the euthanasia of a child with severe medical conditions

The Netherlands approved ending the life of a child under the age of 12 who had been diagnosed with extensive and irreversible brain damage, severe cerebral palsy, epilepsy and visual impairments. The case was reviewed by the government committee that checks compliance with the rules governing such procedures.

The child, whose identity and sex have not been made public, was born abroad after 26 weeks and three days of pregnancy. The child subsequently suffered serious infections, including sepsis, and an MRI scan revealed extensive brain damage. Before turning two, the child’s level of development was estimated to be that of an approximately six-week-old infant.

Doctors did not initially agree that the suffering was permanent and unbearable. Additional treatments and palliative alternatives were tried, but they either caused adverse effects or failed to bring about an improvement. Later, an independent doctor concluded that the legal conditions had been met.

The committee determined that the doctor who carried out the procedure had acted with the diligence required by the rules. In 2024, the Netherlands introduced a framework for children between the ages of one and 12 who are suffering unbearably, have no prospect of improvement and for whom there is no reasonable alternative.