The Dutch Cabinet has decided to make euthanasia possible for very sick children who have run out of treatment options, in line with proposals published by Health Minister Ernst Kuipers
last
year.
DutchNews
reports it
.
Kuipers told MPs that he intends to extend and revise the protocol, which so far only applies to newborns, to also cover children aged 12 and under who are in unbearable pain and for whom palliative care options are not enough. to relieve symptoms.
According to the ministry, the guidelines will affect between 5 and 10 children a year.
For years, Dutch doctors have been asking for the rules to also cover children between the ages of one and twelve: in fact, there are already guidelines for newborns up to 12 months, while those over 12 are covered by the valid euthanasia law for adults.
"This is a particularly complex issue that involves very painful situations," said Kuipers.
"I am delighted that, after intensive consultation with all parties involved, we have reached a solution that will help these terminally ill children, their parents and also their doctors."
Euthanasia will only be possible when it is the only option to end a child's suffering.
“We are talking about children who are so sick that death is inevitable and they are expected to die soon,”
