The Netherlands has recorded its first euthanasia case involving a child under the age of 12 since a legal change two years ago, according to the country's health minister, Sophie Hermans. The child was reportedly suffering from a serious illness, but specific details have not been released.
Assisted dying for terminally ill children between one and 12 years old has been legal in the Netherlands for two years. Previously, only newborns and individuals over 12 could be euthanized. Dutch law requires that parents be consulted, the child must be experiencing unbearable suffering, and there must be no possibility of recovery.
The case has been referred to the public prosecution service to determine if medical professionals adhered to the established regulations. A comprehensive report from the reviewing committee is expected to be published soon.
The Netherlands legalized euthanasia for individuals with incurable illnesses in 2002, and the procedure has significant public support. Before the 2022 law update, there was no clear policy for children aged one to 12, as they were presumed incapable of making their own decisions.
Meanwhile, in England and Wales, a renewed effort to legalize assisted dying for terminally ill adults is underway. Labour MP Lauren Edwards intends to reintroduce the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to Parliament. The bill previously passed votes in the House of Commons but did not advance in the House of Lords before the end of the last parliamentary session.
Edwards has indicated she might use parliamentary procedures to push the bill through if it faces further obstruction in the Lords. However, the bill's reintroduction has drawn criticism from some fellow Labour MPs, who express concerns about the time and political capital being dedicated to this contentious issue. Critics argue the bill grants broad, unchecked powers over life and death and distracts from other government priorities like the cost of living and the National Health Service.