Terminally Ill 12-year-old euthanised in Netherlands

A terminally ill 12-year-old girl has been put to death by euthanasia in the Netherlands according to a new report from the country’s health minister documenting cases of individuals choosing medically assisted death.

The girl, whose identity was not disclosed, had been diagnosed with an unspecified “severe illness.”

The Netherlands Minister of Health, Sophie Hermans, reportedly wrote in a legal letter that the case has been reviewed and will be sent to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), which will ultimately determine if the procedure was handled with regard to the law.

There are several regulations involving voluntary euthanasia, and the Dutch government says it’s allowed only “for patients whose unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement has a medical dimension.” Plus, the patient must ask for euthanasia themselves and fully understand its consequences.

The government does not allow euthanasia “in cases where a person is ‘finished with life’ or deems their life to be ‘completed.'”

Euthanasia has slowly become an option in various countries.