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First-ever case of euthanasia on very young child, 2, was handled well: Dutch committee
NL Times ^ | September 9, 2026 | staff

Posted on 09/14/2026 11:59:45 AM PDT by Morgana

The doctor who performed the Netherlands’ first case of euthanasia on a child under 12 did so with due care, the supervising committee concluded after investigating. The patient, a child of nearly 2 years who suffered from several severe medical conditions, died at the end of 2025.

This child was born very prematurely, at only 26 weeks of gestation. It quickly became apparent that the child had suffered severe brain damage, resulting in severe cerebral palsy and a visual impairment. This was compounded by frequent and severe epileptic seizures, which were largely unresponsive to medication. This left the child restless and unable to sleep for long periods. They also had mucus in their lungs, which made breathing and swallowing very difficult.

Given the cumulative effect of these conditions, it was clear that the child would not live to adulthood. The doctor also determined that their suffering could not be alleviated through medical treatment. The doctor and parents, therefore, decided to actively end the child’s life.

The committee concluded that the doctor acted with due care and made the right assessment. “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.” It added that the doctor strictly adhered to all due-care requirements.

The Netherlands changed its euthanasia law in 2024 to allow for euthanasia on children between the ages of 1 and 12 under very strict conditions. These include that the child must be experiencing hopeless and unbearable suffering, there must be no other reasonable solution, and the doctor must have at least one other independent physician assess the case.

When the law was expanded, the expectation was that euthanasia would be applied to young children no more than five times a year. So far, this was the first and only case.

Eduard Verhagen, a professor of pediatric palliative care at UMCG in Groningen, told RTL Nieuws that the committee’s ruling provides guidance for future cases. “It is good that the committee reached such a well-considered judgment. Many physicians and parents will benefit from this in the future.”

He added that euthanasia is always a difficult step for a doctor. “You aren’t trained for it, and there is a huge threshold to cross. 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."

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) will now also assess this case. Verhagen expects the OM will follow the committee’s assessment and will not prosecute the doctor. "It is a complicated situation for a doctor. 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,” he told RTL. “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."


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: aktiont4; euthanasia; lindseyclancy; netherlands; prolife
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Dear God help us.
1 posted on 09/14/2026 11:59:45 AM PDT by Morgana
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To: Morgana

Disgusting.


2 posted on 09/14/2026 12:02:58 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: Morgana

Let’s not pretend that the child asked for this.


3 posted on 09/14/2026 12:03:52 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: Morgana

“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.”

Yeah. Next time you “doctors” do it without any safeguards at all. I know what these ghouls want.


4 posted on 09/14/2026 12:04:31 PM PDT by Seruzawa ("The political left is the Garden of Eden of incompetence." -Marx the Smarter (Groucho.))
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To: Morgana

Did the 2-year-old give consent to being murdered?

Will other 2-year-olds give consent for a sexual relationship?

How far will they push this? How much control should adults have over innocent children? Looks like they want total control, and the child’s opinion doesn’t necessarily matter.


5 posted on 09/14/2026 12:05:40 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Some people want to control their own life, others want to control the lives of others. )
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To: Morgana

6 posted on 09/14/2026 12:06:54 PM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
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To: Morgana

As with the Lindsey Clancy case, the groundwork is being set for legalized child killing, with bombast about strict conditions before the decision is made, the input of medical professionals, judicial review, the mental health of the mother, etc. It is the slippery slope in action.


7 posted on 09/14/2026 12:09:03 PM PDT by Wallace T.
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To: Morgana

It is the logical progression: Post-uterine abortion.

Humans are no longer viewed as God’s creations with a soul, but just a utility to be used (or abused) until it is no longer useful.


8 posted on 09/14/2026 12:10:21 PM PDT by OpusatFR
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

The Nazis won afterall.


9 posted on 09/14/2026 12:10:24 PM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: nickcarraway; No name given ; SaveFerris

What did we have the Nuremberg trials for?

Why did we send them to the gallows after?

Why did we say “never again” ?

Aktion T4 was not a blue print so why is the world starting to follow it?


10 posted on 09/14/2026 12:11:25 PM PDT by Morgana ( The more I get to know people, the more I realize why Noah only let animals on the boat.)
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To: Morgana
"The doctor and parents, therefore, decided to actively end the child’s life."

In the civilized world, it's called murder.

11 posted on 09/14/2026 12:13:11 PM PDT by Carl Vehse
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To: dfwgator

Yup. Germany certainly lost WWII. But the Nazis won. It’s really clear right now, but it’s been mostly clear since about 1946. We just pretend that the Nazis aren’t in power everywhere.


12 posted on 09/14/2026 12:19:45 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Some people want to control their own life, others want to control the lives of others. )
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To: Morgana

So Clancy kinda did the same thing ?


13 posted on 09/14/2026 12:21:14 PM PDT by al baby (Sarcasm )
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To: Wallace T.

The Lindsey Clancy case is a result of lack of a bad mental health system here in America. To put it plainly the politicians should have never closed all those nervous hospitals when they did. Now we junkies all up and down our streets and women like Mrs Clancy going nuts.

Mrs Clancy needs a long stay in a nervous hospital right next to Mrs Yates.

On another floor of the nervous hospital they need to house the junkies.


14 posted on 09/14/2026 12:21:31 PM PDT by Morgana ( The more I get to know people, the more I realize why Noah only let animals on the boat.)
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To: al baby

See my post 14.

If she’s found guilty then put her in a nervous hospital. She won’t go anywhere.

Mrs Yates is still there and that happened about what 20 years ago? Mrs Yates mind will never be right for her to leave a nervous hospital.


15 posted on 09/14/2026 12:28:07 PM PDT by Morgana ( The more I get to know people, the more I realize why Noah only let animals on the boat.)
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To: Morgana

Do they plan on scaling up to full “Nazi” mode after their test run?


16 posted on 09/14/2026 12:30:21 PM PDT by PTBAA
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To: Morgana

There’s a special place in He77 reserved for this ‘doctor’.


17 posted on 09/14/2026 12:30:36 PM PDT by Semper Vigilantis (Prison is prefect for liberals: Free Housing, Free Food, Free Healthcare & Same Sex Relationships)
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To: nickcarraway

Very.


18 posted on 09/14/2026 12:34:12 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: PTBAA

Most likely.


19 posted on 09/14/2026 12:34:38 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: Morgana

Did they roll the live baby onto the blistering hot bronze hands of the idol while the guys in fancy robes chanted?


20 posted on 09/14/2026 12:36:16 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (I just want FReepers to READ THE ARTICLE. And then think 30 secs before pounding keyboard.)
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