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The Dutch government gave the green light to euthanasia for children under 12 on Friday, allowing euthanasia for young minors suffering from “excruciating and hopeless conditions”.
Netherlands: Rule change requires government to amend existing agreement without parliamentary approval. (representative)
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Children over the age of 12 can already request euthanasia until the age of 16, but only with parental consent. Babies under the age of one are also legal with parental consent.
The cabinet’s new decision follows years of calls by Dutch doctors to lower the current age limit for euthanasia of 12 and over.
The rule change requires the government to amend existing agreements without requiring parliamentary approval.
“Cabinet is developing an end-of-life plan for children under the age of 12 who are suffering excruciating and hopeless conditions,” the Ministry of Health said.
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It said in a statement that this would apply each year to “a small group of approximately five to 10 children … whose palliative care options are insufficient to relieve suffering and who are expected to die in the foreseeable future”.
The new changes for children aged 1 to 12 will bring the Netherlands into line with Belgium, which in 2014 became the first country in the world to pass a law allowing euthanasia for young children – but only with the child’s consent.
However, Dutch protocol stipulates that euthanasia can also be carried out if the child is unable to give consent, with the consent of the parents and consultation with a doctor, Dutch health ministry spokesman Axeldis told AFP.
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The new ruling comes after years of debate, even with opposition from two Christian parties in Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s own ruling coalition.
“It’s a very complex subject with a tragic situation that you don’t want anyone to experience,” said Health Minister Ernst Kuipers.
“I am delighted that after in-depth consultation with all parties involved, we have found a solution that will help these terminally ill children, their parents and their practitioners,” Kuipers said.
The Netherlands and neighboring Belgium became the first countries in the world to legalize euthanasia in 2002.
More than 8,700 people will be euthanized in the Netherlands in 2022, according to government figures. Most of them have incurable cancers.
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