The Netherlands has become the first country in the world where a child under the age of 12 has undergone euthanasia. The case was revealed by Health Minister Sophie Hermans on Monday (June 22), sparking a storm of reactions. The northern European country legalized voluntary euthanasia in 2002 and extended it to terminally ill children under 12 in 2024.
The health minister’s letter that revealed the euthanasia of the minor child
Health Minister Sophie Hermans presented an annual report from the committee that reviews all late-term terminations and medically assisted deaths of children. In her letter, she revealed that a child died by euthanasia in late 2025 due to a serious and incurable illness; however, the report included no personal details about the child or their medical condition. It is noted that the case is currently under investigation by the public prosecutor’s office to ensure that doctors followed the strict legal protocols required in euthanasia cases, particularly those involving children.
The program in question is intended for children who are expected to die in the near future and whose pain cannot be adequately relieved. These children often have congenital abnormalities of the brain, lungs, or heart, or suffer from metabolic diseases. In the past, only palliative care could be provided, or a decision could be made to stop giving children food and water, allowing them to “die” in this way — a process that can sometimes take weeks. The law was passed with considerable difficulty and opposition from politicians and doctors alike, given that it concerns children who are not capable of making decisions on their own. It is worth noting that final judgment on the actions of doctors who proceed with euthanasia of minors under 12 rests with the public prosecutor’s office, not with the relevant review committee.
What the law says about euthanasia of minor children in the Netherlands
Euthanasia in the Netherlands is a legal option when a child is “incurably ill and suffering unbearably with no prospect of improvement.” In such cases, the doctor and the parents can jointly decide to end the child’s life. As stated on the Dutch government’s website, “this decision is always made in consultation with the parents and, where possible, with the child as well.” It should be noted that under Dutch law, minors may request euthanasia from the age of 12, provided they are able to assess and understand what is best for them. For children aged 12 to 15, parental or guardian consent is also required.
