According to reports from The New York Times, the Dutch Broadcasting Foundation, and other media outlets, last week, Sophie Helmsman, the Minister of Health, Welfare, and Sports of the Netherlands, revealed to the House of Representatives that a child with a serious illness, aged between 1 and 12 years, was subjected to euthanasia with the assistance of doctors.
Since 2024, under certain circumstances, it has been legal in the Netherlands to provide assistance with death for children of this age group. Currently, only one such case has been recorded. Previously in the Netherlands, only newborns and children over 12 years old could choose euthanasia.
In his report to the House of Representatives, Helmans mentioned an act of “terminating life,” but did not provide specific details, such as the identity of the deceased child or information about the disease they suffered from.
According to Herrmanis, this case was reported to the expert committee responsible for review at the end of last year. The committee has heard the statements of the involved doctor and reviewed whether the related procedures were compliant. The prosecution will also conduct an examination and make an independent judgment.
In 2002, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia.
According to the Dutch government's guidelines, minors aged 12 can apply for assisted death, provided they understand the implications of this decision. Children between 12 and 15 years old require the consent of their parents or guardians. Adolescents aged 16 and 17 must have their parents involved in the decision-making process, but their consent is not required.
In 2024, the Netherlands will expand the legal scope of euthanasia to children aged 1 to 12 years old, but only in cases where the child is “diagnosed with a terminal disease and suffering intolerable pain, with no hope of improvement”. The Dutch authorities estimate that after the new regulations take effect, there will be 5 to 10 cases of euthanasia involving children each year.
Globally, euthanasia is a highly controversial social issue.
For example, in 2022, 13,241 people in Canada chose euthanasia. Some Canadians believe that the government is “encouraging” citizens to commit suicide. Many family members of those who were approved for euthanasia also feel angry about the government’s easy approval of euthanasia.
