Dutch Authorities To Review Doctor After First Under-12 Child Euthanasia Case

A terminally ill 12-year-old child has died by euthanasia in the Netherlands, marking the first time the procedure has been carried out on a minor in that age bracket since the country updated its laws.

The unidentified minor passed away last year following legislation passed by the Dutch government in 2024, which legalised voluntary euthanasia for severely ill children between the ages of 1 and 12.

The Netherlands Minister of Health, Sophie Hermans, confirmed that medical panels have reviewed the case and will be forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service (OM) to ensure all legal parameters were strictly followed. Under Dutch regulations, an automatic official review is launched after such procedures, despite the practice being legal.

According to government guidelines, euthanasia is strictly restricted to patients facing unbearable suffering with no prospect of medical improvement. Additionally, the regulations require that the patient must personally request the procedure and fully comprehend its consequences.

The Dutch government explicitly prohibits the procedure in cases where an individual simply considers their life to be “completed” or feels “finished with life” without a diagnosed medical condition.

Euthanasia laws have continued to evolve globally. Earlier this year, a 25-year-old Spanish woman successfully underwent the procedure to end her life following several severe mental health crises and failed suicide attempts.