Netherlands: Two-year-old child has received active euthanasia

The child, who was "almost 24 months old" was born at week 26 and suffered serious brain damage. It suffered from recurrent epilepsy that could not be alleviated, had difficulty breathing and contracted infections that led to sepsis. The level of development was like a six-month-old baby, with no hope of improvement, writes The Telegraph.

A doctor in consultation with the parents felt that the criteria were met for euthanasia.

Two years ago, the law was expanded to include children between 1-12 years of age: It must be an "unbearable suffering" without hope of improvement, and with the consent of the parents. At least two doctors must assess the case.

However, the second doctor considered that the child was not "suffering unbearably" at that time, that the epileptic seizures were painful, but that they did not continue continuously. There was possibly room for palliative, palliative care.

The parents believed that it would only prolong the child's suffering.

The child was euthanized, by being given a coma-inducing drug until it died, in late 2025.

The committee that oversees the system came to the conclusion after an examination that the decision was legal, and that "the unbearable suffering was clearly within sight". The report presented recently also revealed the age of the child. The previously youngest known case, a nine-year-old child, is found in Belgium.

Even among the countries that allow active euthanasia, it is controversial when it comes to children, as it is questioned whether they can give their consent. Most countries have an 18-year age limit.

That they apply to such a young child has sparked debate in the Netherlands, where churches and disability organizations are again questioning euthanasia and warning of a slippery slope, ending life without consent and "using compassion to legitimize dubious ethical actions".

The case will also be reviewed by prosecutors, but experts who spoke to the media say it appears to have gone legally, and that it is a guiding example of how the euthanasia law can work.