Netherlands to Allow Euthanasia for Terminally Ill Children of All Ages

The Netherlands has said it will broaden its euthanasia regulations to allow doctors the ability to end the lives of terminally ill children between one and 12 years old.

The rule change involves the government adjusting an existing protocol, and does not require parliamentary approval.

The decision comes after years of requests from some Dutch doctors to lower the age limit of 12 for euthanasia, as well as debate within the cabinet.

According to the Dutch government, “The end of life for this [age] group is the only reasonable alternative to the child’s unbearable and hopeless suffering.”

“This is a very complex subject that deals with harrowing situations that you would not wish on anyone,” Dutch Health Minister Ernst Kuipers said.

“I am pleased that after intensive consultation with all parties involved, we have come to a solution with which we can help these terminally-ill children, their parents and also their practitioners.”

The new regulations would apply to terminally-ill children who are in unbearable pain from their disease, and for whom palliative care can’t bring relief. According to the Dutch Health Ministry, this would apply to “a small group of about five to 10 children” a year.

Second Country to Allow Euthanasia For Young Children

Currently in the Netherlands, euthanasia is subject to strict criteria, and is allowed in infants younger than 12 months and children above 12—although they must obtain parental consent if they are under 16. Those between 16 and 18 must still involve parents in their decision.

Doctors who carry out euthanasia are required to be convinced that the patient who requested assisted dying did so voluntarily, and that their suffering is unbearable, and has no chance of improvement.

The latest changes in the Netherlands to regulate how children of all ages can access euthanasia is not unprecedented—Belgium in 2014 became the first country to pass legislation to allow euthanasia for young children, with their consent.

In the Dutch protocol, if the child can’t provide consent, euthanasia can still go ahead with the parents’ permission, in consultation with a doctor, Health ministry spokesman Axel Dees told AFP.

The Netherlands in 2002 became the first country in the world to legalise euthanasia. Belgium followed soon after, in the same year.

In the Netherlands, all cases of euthanasia must be reported to medical review boards.

In 2022, only one instance of euthanasia for a minor between 12 and 16 years old was reported in the Netherlands, figures from regional euthanasia review boards show.

Altogether, according to government figures, more than 8,720 people or 5.1 percent of total deaths were via euthanasia in the Netherlands in 2022—the majority (57.8 percent) of whom were suffering from incurable cancer. This was an increase of 13.7 percent from the reported number of euthanasia deaths in 2021 at 7,666 reports.

Since euthanasia was first made legal, the number of euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands has increased nearly fivefold (480.44 percent). In 2003, 1,815 deaths by euthanasia were recorded.

Reuters contributed to this report.