Legalizing euthanasia for children in the Netherlands

Abstract

"It has not been possible thus far to locate the text of the protocol describing the agreement made by the University Clinic of Groningen in The Netherlands and the Dutch judicial Authorities concerning the extension of euthanasia to children under the age of 12 and even at birth. This protocol, according to press reports attributed to Dr Edward Verhagen, director of the clinic mentioned, establishes "extremely strictly, step by step, the procedures that doctors are obliged to follow" when dealing with the problem of "freeing from pain" children (within the above-mentioned age group) who are seriously ill by subjecting them to euthanasia."