A disabled child who could neither speak nor ask to die has been euthanized in the Netherlands, marking the country’s first reported case involving a child between ages 1 and 12.
The toddler was nearly 2 years old and was not dying, according to LifeNews. Born prematurely at 26 weeks, the child reportedly suffered severe brain damage, cerebral palsy, visual impairment and frequent epileptic seizures. Breathing, swallowing and sleeping were difficult.
Yet instead of protecting this vulnerable life, adults decided it should end.
The child’s parents and doctor concluded that the suffering was unbearable and could not be relieved. A Dutch review committee ruled that the physician “strictly adhered to all due-care requirements.” The Public Prosecution Service will now review the case.
The committee said, “All facets of ‘being human’ — regarding motor skills, behavior, and personality — were severely impaired and were not going to improve.”
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Those words expose the horror at the heart of this decision. Human worth does not depend upon motor skills, cognitive development, independence or personality. Every child bears God-given dignity. Disability does not make a life disposable, and suffering does not grant others moral authority to kill the person who suffers.
The Netherlands changed its rules in 2024 to permit doctors to end the lives of children ages 1 through 12 under certain conditions. Officials expected the practice to be used no more than five times annually. This child became the first victim of that policy.
Eduard Verhagen, a professor of pediatric palliative care, praised the ruling as guidance for future cases. “Many physicians and parents will benefit from this in the future,” he told RTL Nieuws, according to LifeNews.
There is no benefit in turning physicians into executioners or making death a response to disability. This is not mercy. It is evil dressed in clinical language and approved by government procedure.
God gave us life, and life belongs to Him. Jesus Christ declared that He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” He loves children and commands us to protect the vulnerable, not to judge whether their lives are worth continuing.
May God have mercy upon our world. May He protect disabled children and awaken every conscience hardened by this culture of death. May all humanity repent of our sins and return to the Author of life.
When the killing of a helpless child is celebrated as compassion, God’s judgment is inevitable.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
