Dutch Committee Clears Doctor in First Non‑Infant Pediatric Euthanasia Case

Overview

• A national review published in late September 2026 found a child under two was euthanized in the Netherlands and concluded the attending physician acted with due care.
• The committee reported the child was born extremely premature and suffered severe brain injury, cerebral palsy, visual impairment, frequent uncontrolled seizures and chronic breathing problems with no prospect of improvement.
• Before the procedure, the treating doctor sought independent second opinions and consulted the parents as required under the rules that allow assisted dying for children under 12 who suffer unbearably with no chance of recovery.
• Following the committee's assessment, the public prosecutor decided not to bring criminal charges against the physician, a decision that the treating doctor said eased months of uncertainty for the family and medical team.
• The case is the first known application of the Netherlands’ 2024 expansion of assisted‑dying rules to children older than newborns and is likely to shape how clinicians and courts handle similar requests, with experts urging faster review timelines to reduce stress on families and doctors.