Netherlands Performs First Euthanasia on Child Under 12, Sparking Global Debate

It has been confirmed that the first case of euthanasia performed on a child under the age of 12 in the Netherlands took place late last year, following a revision of relevant regulations.

Beyond euthanasia for children and adolescents, cases of individuals choosing assisted dying due to reasons such as poverty or a lack of care have been reported, fueling ongoing debates over bioethics around the world.

According to a report by the British daily The Times on June 23 (local time), Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport Fleur Agema recently stated in a letter to parliament that a supervisory body had been notified of the case.

The minister did not disclose specific details such as the child's age, name, gender, place of residence, or medical condition.

This letter was first reported by the Dutch public broadcaster NOS.

In 2024, the Dutch parliament approved an expansion of the scope of euthanasia regulations to include children under 12 who suffer from unbearable pain or suffering due to an incurable disease, provided there is no reasonable way to alleviate it.

Prior to this, euthanasia was only available for newborns and individuals aged 12 and older.

For those under 18, the consent or consultation of parents or legal guardians is required.

In the Netherlands, legal precedents treating euthanasia as non-criminal have been accumulating since the 1970s, and the scope of permission has gradually expanded since the legal basis for adult euthanasia was established in 2002.

Currently, euthanasia accounts for just over 5% of all deaths in the Netherlands.

Debates surrounding euthanasia, also referred to as "assisted dying" or "medical assistance in dying," continue to persist.

Belgium abolished the age limit for euthanasia in 2014, and it is reported that there have been six cases of euthanasia involving children under 18 since then.

These cases include a 9-year-old child suffering from an incurable brain tumor and an 11-year-old child with muscular dystrophy.

In the United Kingdom, a bill to allow assisted dying for terminally ill adult patients passed the House of Commons but was scrapped in May of this year following the end of the parliamentary session in the House of Lords.

Labour MP Lauren Edwards has resubmitted a similar bill, and the House of Commons is scheduled to revisit the matter on September 11.

The bill would allow mentally competent adults with a life expectancy of six months or less to self-administer life-ending substances.

Canada legalized medical assistance in dying for terminally ill patients in 2016, and in 2021, it expanded the eligibility to include individuals with incurable diseases or disabilities, even if they are not in a terminal state.

However, controversy has grown as reports emerged of individuals choosing assisted dying due to poverty, homelessness, or a lack of care.

Following reports of a patient with a severe hereditary neurological disorder traveling to Switzerland for assisted dying, Taiwanese health authorities recently announced that while they will not legalize euthanasia, they plan to strengthen palliative care, long-term care, and systems regarding patient self-determination.

Uruguay legalized euthanasia through the "Dignified Death Law" in 2025, and Colombia has been implementing the procedure since 2015, following a Constitutional Court ruling in 1997.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.