Two-year-old toddler euthanised in the Netherlands following rule change

A two-year-old child has been euthanised in the Netherlands after rules allowing assisted dying for terminally ill children under 12 came into effect.

The toddler, who was almost 24 months old, had severe medical conditions, according to a review by a Dutch medical review board.

The case is believed to be the first known instance of a child under 12, but not a newborn, being euthanised under the policy, The Sun reports.

The child, whose gender has not been disclosed, was born prematurely at 26 weeks and had severe brain damage, cerebral palsy and visual impairment.

A two-year-old child has been euthanised in the Netherlands following a rule (Getty Stock Images)

The toddler also struggled to breathe because of mucus in their lungs and suffered epileptic seizures that did not respond to medication.

According to the review, the doctor treating the child initially sought opinions from independent doctors after concluding that their suffering could not be relieved through medical treatment.

A report said: "Those physicians established that at that time the child was not continuously suffering unbearably.

"The epilepsy caused a great deal of discomfort, but the epileptic seizures were not continuous.

"Their conclusion was that there were still reasonable alternatives, such as palliative options and other medications that could possibly result in better control of the epileptic seizures."

The doctor then sought another opinion from a physician who found that the toddler’s 'unbearable suffering was clearly visible'.

That doctor concluded that the requirements for euthanasia had been met.

The review stated: "All facets of 'being human' – regarding motor skills, behaviour, and personality – were severely impaired and were not going to improve.

The review board ultimately concluded that the doctor had acted with due care (Getty Stock Images)

"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 review board ultimately concluded that the doctor had acted with due care.

The Netherlands introduced rules allowing euthanasia for terminally ill children under 12 in 2024.

Before the change, euthanasia was permitted for newborns and for children aged 12 and over, subject to strict conditions.

Euthanasia, the act of deliberately ending a person's life to relieve suffering, and assisted suicide are completely illegal in the UK under current law.

Assisted suicide is illegal under the terms of the Suicide Act (1961) and is punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment. Trying to kill yourself is not a criminal act, the NHS outlines.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.