First child euthanized under the Netherlands’ new law was only one year old

Officials detailed that the child was "born prematurely during a holiday abroad," occurring at a gestational age of 26 weeks and three days.

"Multiple very serious complications arose as a result of the extreme prematurity. The complications included multiple infections with sepsis, which is an immune response of the body to pathogens causing damage to tissue and/or organs," the report read.

After being transferred to the Netherlands at the age of four and a half months, the child then underwent examination at a hospital, where it was revealed that they had "very extensive brain damage."

"This included periventricular leukomalacia, which indicates damage to the white matter in the brain, leading to spastic cerebral palsy. In addition, there was damage to the occipital cortex, the posterior part of the cerebral cortex, with an expected visual impairment. A cerebral visual impairment was very likely present," the report stated.

When they were eight months old, they were also diagnosed with infantile epileptic spasm syndrome, which is a "very severe epilepsy syndrome characterized by difficult-to-treat epilepsy" that leads to "severe discomfort and developmental delay."

While treatment with various standard anti-epileptic medications was initiated, the child experienced severe side effects such as developing a sleep disorder. The epilepsy also caused coughing fits and a swallowing disorder.

Due to these conditions, the child was intellectually and motorically disabled, and the prognosis was that they would "remain dependent on care for life for all activities of daily living."

"The likelihood of death at a very young age due to complications was considered very high," the report said.

"The doctor consulted independent doctors outside the region (second opinion) who concluded that there was no realistic chance of improvement in the situation and that it was an irreversible situation," the report detailed.

After treatment options were discussed with the parents, the couple eventually asked the doctor to end their child's life. While alternative solutions existed that could lead to better seizure control, they were still firm with their decision, as allowing the child to live would only prolong their suffering.

"The parents did not want the choice of prolonged sedation that would lead to starvation (whereby the child would eventually die from a lack of fluids and nutrition), and the doctor understood this. The doctor did not consider palliative sedation a reasonable solution," the report said.

Given the circumstances, the committee concluded that the "physician acted with due care."

This was the first time that a child under the age of 12 was euthanized since the country made amendments to its law on euthanasia.

Previously, only minors from the age of 12 could request euthanasia as long as they are capable of assessing and understanding what is best for them in their situation, as well as have parental consent. However, the law was extended in 2024, allowing euthanasia to be available for children under the age of 12 if they are terminally ill and are suffering unbearably with no prospect of improvement.