The Dutch Euthanize A Child Under Age 12

Six Michigan House Democrats unveiled a package of bills during April to create a Death with Dignity Act, following a similar effort in the previous term by Senate Democrats to legalize physician-assisted death in the state.

The Netherlands is well ahead of Michigan, having legalized euthanasia back in 2002.  This was 14 years before Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) Act in 2016.

Taking a page from Aktion T4, Dutch Health minister Sophie Hermans just stated that a child under age 12 was euthanized late last year.  Dutch law now allows euthanizing children of all ages, bringing their law into full compliance with Adolf Hitler's Führerbefehl of October 1939:

https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/06/netherlands-records-first-euthanasia-death-of-child-under-12/

Netherlands records first euthanasia death of child under 12
June 23, 2026

A child under the age of 12 has died through euthanasia for the first time since the law was changed two years ago.

Health minister Sophie Hermans said the case had been reported to the committee that reviews all late-term abortions and medically assisted deaths of children.

Hermans revealed the child had died at the end of last year when she presented the committee’s annual report to parliament on Monday.

No details about the child’s circumstances, such as their age, gender or their medical condition, were given.

The death has also been referred to the public prosecution service, as happens with all euthanasia cases, who will decide if the doctors complied with the strict rules that protect them from being charged with unlawful killing.

When the law was extended to under-12s politicians expected around five cases per year to be reported. Previously terminally ill children who wanted to end their lives could only do so by palliative sedation or by refusing food and water.

Unbearable suffering

Euthanasia in the Netherlands is only permitted if the request comes from the patient and a doctor agrees that they are suffering unbearably with no prospect of relief. Around 6% of all deaths last year were through euthanasia.

The doctor must be satisfied that the patient is not acting under duress and must obtain a second opinion from at least one independent colleague.

In the case of a child under 12, their parents must give their consent once the doctor has established that there is no treatment available for their condition.

The committee’s guidelines state: “The doctor will involve the child, insofar as they are capable, in the decision and must be satisfied that the child’s life is not being ended against their will.”