The Netherlands has confirmed the first euthanasia of a child under the age of 12 since expanding its assisted dying regulations in 2024.Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans revealed that the terminally ill child died through euthanasia at the end of last year. No details about the child’s identity, age or medical condition have been made public.The case has now been referred to the Dutch Public Prosecution Service, which will review whether the doctor complied with the country’s strict legal requirements before deciding whether any further action is necessary.Such reviews are a routine part of the euthanasia process in the Netherlands.Under Dutch law, euthanasia is only permitted in exceptional circumstances where a patient is experiencing unbearable suffering with no prospect of recovery.The law was expanded in 2024 to include terminally ill children aged between one and 12, filling what the Dutch government had previously described as a legal gap.Before the change, euthanasia was only available for newborns in very limited circumstances and for patients aged 12 and over, subject to age-specific legal safeguards. The government had estimated that only around five to 10 children each year would meet the criteria under the expanded regulation.The announcement has once again brought international attention to the Netherlands’ euthanasia laws, which remain among the most widely debated in the world due to the ethical questions surrounding assisted dying, particularly in cases involving minors.Do you think there should be an age cap for euthanasia?•