The Netherlands to Allow Euthanasia for Terminally Ill Children Under 12

The Netherlands is expanding physician-assisted euthanasia for terminally ill children under the age of 12. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Dutch government decided to allow physicians to euthanize terminally ill children under the age of 12. 

The Netherlands, the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia, has permitted physician-assisted euthanasia since 2002, provided that the patient “is experiencing unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement,” according to the Government of the Netherlands’ website.

Ill infants under the age of one may be euthanized with parental consent. Children between 12 and 16 can seek euthanasia with parental permission, and those 16 or older do not need parental permission.

Until now, the laws lacked provisions on euthanasia for those between the ages of one and 12. Instead, parents, in conference with physicians, were able to choose palliative sedation or reject medical intervention. However, these options meant that the child could suffer for days or weeks before passing away.

With these situations in mind, Dutch Health Minister Hugo de Jonge wrote a letter to parliament, stating that a government-commissioned investigation “shows that there is a need for active termination of life among doctors and parents of incurably ill children, who are suffering hopelessly and unbearably and will die within the foreseeable future.”

In 2019, people who sought euthanasia accounted for just over 4 percent of deaths in the Netherlands, at 6,361. 

In response to the recent decision, Carla Dik-Faber, a member of Parliament and of the political party ChristenUnie, wrote, “Child euthanasia has never been and never will be a viable path for ChristenUnie. On the other hand, we have always supported palliative sedation […] The question now is where the line lies between palliative sedation and active termination of life and what we do for children where palliative sedation is not a solution” (Translated from Dutch to English via Google Translate).

Meanwhile, MP Pia Dijkstra tweeted, “Active termination of life and unbearable suffering in children are very difficult and difficult subjects. Good that this step is being taken. In this way we can prevent unnecessary suffering for young children.”

A study estimated that between five and ten children a year will be affected by the new regulations, which the government plans to implement in the coming months.