"One-Year-Old Baby Euthanized": Netherlands Reports First Case Under Expanded Euthanasia Law

Euthanasia Approved for a Terminally Ill Child Less Than 24 Months Old

It has been confirmed that the Netherlands has permitted euthanasia for a one-year-old baby under its expanded euthanasia legislation, sparking shock and controversy.

Baby photo. Stock photo not related to the article. Pixabay.

According to reports by CBS in the United States and other outlets on September 29 (local time), the Netherlands has announced its first case of ending the life of a child under newly introduced guidelines for euthanasia for children aged 1 to 12 suffering from severe illnesses.

According to a report released by the review committee under the Dutch government, the child was born at just 26 weeks and 3 days of gestation due to extreme premature birth while the family was abroad. The child developed multiple complications, and repeated infections eventually led to sepsis.

When the child was about four and a half months old and transferred to the Netherlands, an MRI scan revealed extensive brain damage. This resulted in spastic cerebral palsy, as well as cerebral visual impairment, making it impossible for the child to properly process visual information. Around eight months of age, the child was diagnosed with infantile spasms, a severe form of epilepsy.

The child's condition did not improve despite ongoing treatment. An evaluation conducted just before the child turned two years old estimated the actual developmental level to be around that of a six-week-old infant. Medical professionals concluded that virtually all human functions—including motor abilities, behavior, and personality—were severely impacted, and that there was no prospect for improvement.

Previously, the child's primary physician sought advice from other medical professionals in different regions. Some doctors suggested that the child was not enduring persistent and unbearable pain and believed that there were still options, such as trying new medications to better control epileptic seizures. Following this advice, the primary physician attempted additional treatments. However, new side effects emerged, which ultimately led to discontinuation of those treatments.

During a subsequent review, all medical professionals except for the primary physician determined that the child's suffering was clear and unbearable, and that there were no reasonable treatment alternatives available to alleviate the pain.

After extended deliberation, the child's parents also requested to end the child’s life to relieve suffering. Since the child could not express any intention, the procedure was carried out with the parents' full consent. After determining that the Dutch criteria for ending life were met, the primary physician granted approval for euthanasia. This became the first officially reported case under the new regulations allowing euthanasia for a child less than 24 months old.

The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia for adults in 2002. From 2024, the legislation was expanded to include children aged from 1 year to under 12 years with incurable conditions. In the case of pediatric euthanasia, there are strict conditions that must be met, including: there is no hope for recovery, the suffering is continuous and unbearable, there are no alternatives to alleviate the pain, and a second independent medical opinion must be sought.

Furthermore, all cases of euthanasia must be reported to the life-ending review committee. Physicians who carry out euthanasia illegally may face up to 12 years in prison or a fine. According to the committee, the number of deaths in the Netherlands due to assisted suicide (medically assisted dying) or euthanasia reached 10,341 last year, up 3.8% from 2024.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.