News

Dutch Government Euthanizes 2-Year-Old Child

September 17, 2026

Reported by: SlayNews

The Dutch government has euthanized a 2-year-old boy under the Netherlands’ expanded “assisted suicide” laws after doctors determined that the toddler lacked “all facets” of “being human,” marking the country’s first state-sanctioned killing of a child under 12.

An official review committee has now concluded that the doctor who ended the child’s life acted with “due care” and properly followed the requirements of the controversial policy.

The committee members argued that the case was “handled well.”

The boy, who was nearly 2 years old, was not imminently dying when his parents and doctors decided to actively end his life.

The child was born extremely prematurely at 26 weeks and suffered severe brain damage, cerebral palsy, visual impairment, frequent seizures, and serious difficulties breathing and swallowing.

His developmental age was estimated at approximately six weeks.

Nevertheless, the decision to euthanize the boy was approved under rules introduced by the Dutch government in 2024, allowing children between 1 and 12 years old to have their lives deliberately ended under certain circumstances.

He was euthanized in late 2025, but his death was only recently made public

Doctors Said ‘All Facets’ of ‘Being Human’ Were Impaired

The child suffered frequent and severe epileptic seizures that were largely resistant to medication.

The seizures reportedly left him restless and unable to sleep for extended periods.

He also suffered from mucus accumulating in his lungs, creating further problems with breathing and swallowing.

Doctors determined that the combined conditions meant he was unlikely to survive into adulthood and concluded that his suffering could not be sufficiently relieved through medical treatment.

The child’s doctor and parents subsequently agreed to actively end his life.

In reviewing the case, the supervising committee endorsed that decision.

“All facets of ‘being human’ – regarding motor skills, behavior, and personality – were severely impaired and were not going to improve,” the committee said.

“Despite all medical and non-medical interventions, the parents and the doctor observed no improvement in the child’s condition and were convinced that the child was suffering unbearably and without prospect of relief.”

The committee concluded that the physician had strictly complied with the government’s due-care requirements.

The child died at the end of 2025.

Netherlands Expanded Euthanasia to Young Children

The Netherlands expanded its euthanasia policy in 2024 to cover children between the ages of 1 and 12.

Under the rules, euthanasia can be performed when doctors determine that a child is experiencing “hopeless and unbearable suffering,” that there is no reasonable alternative, and that at least one independent physician has assessed the case.

Officials predicted when the policy was introduced that it would likely be used no more than five times per year.

The 2-year-old boy’s death is the first known case approved under the new rules.

The decision now establishes a precedent for how similar cases could be assessed in the future.

Eduard Verhagen, a professor of pediatric palliative care at UMCG in Groningen, said the committee’s ruling would provide guidance to other doctors and parents considering euthanasia for children.

“It is good that the committee reached such a well-considered judgment,” Verhagen said.

“Many physicians and parents will benefit from this in the future.”

Verhagen acknowledged that deliberately ending a child’s life presents an enormous threshold for physicians.

“You aren’t trained for it, and there is a huge threshold to cross,” he said.

“Yet, sometimes you reach the point where you do cross that threshold.

“When you see that the suffering is so severe and realize there is no other reasonable way to end it – other than allowing the child to die – then, as a doctor, you are prepared to take that step.

“But it remains a difficult decision: difficult medically, but also emotionally.

“You need support from colleagues, as well as from a committee that—one hopes—will understand why you did what you did.”

Prosecutors Will Review Killing

The case will now be examined separately by the Netherlands’ Public Prosecution Service.

Verhagen said he expects prosecutors to accept the review committee’s conclusion and decline to prosecute the physician who euthanized the child.

“It is a complicated situation for a doctor,” Verhagen said.

“After all, he performed the procedure to end the life and then has to wait months to find out whether or not he will be prosecuted.

“It is a trying situation, and I hope that in the future, the timeframes for reaching a final decision will be shorter than they currently are.”

The ruling means the Netherlands’ first use of its expanded euthanasia policy for children under 12 has now cleared its initial official review.

The decision also provides a framework that authorities say other doctors and parents can use when considering whether severely disabled young children should have their lives ended under the country’s euthanasia system.