First Two-Year-Old Child Dies by Euthanasia in Netherlands Under New Law
- A Dutch medical review committee has confirmed that a child nearly 24 months old died by euthanasia at the end of 2025, marking the first time the procedure...
- Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans first disclosed the case in a letter to parliament in June.
- Official medical reports state the child was born prematurely at 26 weeks.
A Dutch medical review committee has confirmed that a child nearly 24 months old died by euthanasia at the end of 2025, marking the first time the procedure was performed on a young child under expanded national laws.
Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans first disclosed the case in a letter to parliament in June. While the initial report did not reveal the child’s age, a subsequent review by the Committee for Late-Term Abortion and Termination of Life in Newborns and Children provided specific medical details and ruled that the attending physicians acted within the law.
Medical conditions and criteria for the procedure
Official medical reports state the child was born prematurely at 26 weeks. The child faced a combination of severe impairments, including cerebral palsy, severe visual impairment, and epilepsy that did not respond to medication. Fluid buildup in the lungs also made swallowing and breathing extremely difficult.
The attending physician and the parents concluded the child experienced unbearable suffering with no prospect of recovery. The review committee noted that while the epileptic seizures were not continuous, they caused significant discomfort.
The committee’s final assessment found that the child’s motor skills, behavior, and personality were severely impaired without hope of improvement. The document stated that despite medical and non-medical interventions, the parents and doctor remained convinced the child was suffering unbearably.
Medical consultations and review process
Before proceeding with euthanasia, doctors sought independent specialist opinions. Initial second opinions suggested that alternative palliative measures might better control the child’s seizures. However, a third medical expert confirmed that no other treatment options remained to alleviate the suffering.
The Committee for Late-Term Abortion and Termination of Life in Newborns and Children interviewed the involved doctors to ensure standard procedures were followed. The committee ultimately concluded the doctor’s assessment was correct.
Netherlands euthanasia laws for children
The Netherlands has long permitted assisted dying for adults and teenagers. Separate regulations previously allowed life-ending procedures for infants under one year old under strict medical criteria. In April 2024, the government extended these regulations to include terminally ill children between the ages of 1 and 12.
The Dutch government states that euthanasia is only permitted for patients whose unbearable suffering has a medical dimension and no prospect of improvement. This criteria applies to somatic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease or cancer, as well as dementia and psychiatric disorders.
The Netherlands is one of few nations to allow the procedure for young children; Belgium has permitted it since 2014.
All facets of ‘being human’ – regarding motor skills, behaviour, and personality – were severely impaired and were not going to improve. Despite all medical and non-medical interventions, the parents and the doctor observed no improvement in the child’s condition and were convinced that the child was suffering unbearably and without prospect of relief. Committee for Late-Term Abortion and Termination of Life in Newborns and Children