Health Minister Sophie Hermans told parliament in a letter that a 24‑month‑old child died by euthanasia at the end of 2025, marking the first use of the procedure on a child under the amended law.
The infant, born prematurely at 26 weeks, suffered from cerebral palsy, severe visual impairment, medication‑resistant epilepsy and chronic lung fluid buildup that made breathing and swallowing nearly impossible. Despite palliative care, the parents saw no improvement and requested that the doctors consider euthanasia.
A medical committee that interviewed the attending physician, the parents and independent specialists concluded that the child was in unbearable suffering with no chance of recovery. The committee, chaired by the Committee for Late‑Term Abortion and Termination of Life in Newborns and Children, found that the doctors had adhered to the strict criteria set out in the 2024 amendment.
The findings will be tabled to the Dutch parliament for review, and the case is expected to spark debate over the ethical boundaries of assisted dying for children. The committee’s report may prompt a reassessment of the law’s scope and safeguards.