A child under the age of 12 has died by euthanasia in the Netherlands, the first case of its kind since the nation changed its laws.

Health Minister Sophie Hermans confirmed the death of the child, who had reportedly been seriously ill, according to the Daily Mail.

The Netherlands, two years ago, legalised assisted dying for terminally sick children aged from one to 12 years. Under the previous law, only newborns and people over the age of 12 could be euthanised.

No further details were provided about the child, whose death has now been referred to the public prosecution service, which will decide if doctors complied with the rules surrounding euthanasia.

The committee’s report will be made public shortly.

Under Dutch law, euthanasia is only granted if requested by the patient and if a doctor says they are suffering unbearably and is satisfied the patient isn’t being pressured.

The Netherlands in 2002 became the first country to legalise assisted dying for people with terminal illnesses.

VAD in Australia

In Australia, voluntary assisted dying is accessible in all states and the ACT, however, is still illegal in the Northern Territory.

Strict guidelines exist in each state and the ACT, with the rules varying slightly in each.

In April, legendary radio and television presenter James Valentine died aged 64 through voluntary assisted dying after a cancer diagnosis.

“James passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family, who adored him,” Valentine’s family said in a statement. .

“Throughout his illness, James did it his way, which lasted all the way until the end when he made the choice to do Voluntary Assisted Dying.

“Both he and his family are grateful he was given the option to go out on his own terms. He was calm, dignified as always and somehow still making us laugh.”

The broadcaster was officially farewelled in February this year, where he thanked his audience for years of support through his 25 years in Afternoons and over 40 years with the company.

“I could ask callers to make stuff up, to invent stories, to go with any sort of fanciful notion of the city that we had going on,” Valentine said.

“What a huge buzz of enjoyment I got when you called in, in response to something I’d suggest.”

How does voluntary assisted dying work?

Voluntary assisted dying, often called VAD, has been legally available in NSW since 2023.

It is only available to terminally ill adults and has a strict eligibility criteria.

“Voluntary assisted dying means an eligible person can ask for medical help to end their life,” NSW Health says.

“The person must have an advanced and progressive disease, illness, or medical condition that is expected to cause their death within six months (or 12 months for neurodegenerative diseases like motor neurone disease).

“They must also be experiencing suffering that can’t be relieved in a way that is acceptable to them.

“A person must meet the eligibility criteria and follow all the legal steps for voluntary assisted dying to happen. This will allow them to take or be given a medication to bring about their death at a time that they choose.”

If approved, a patient can either self-administer or have a medical professional administer medication to use voluntary assisted dying.

“Voluntary assisted dying and suicide are different. Asking for medical help to die is not suicide under the law in NSW,” the health department says.

Renewed interest in UK VAD bill

A push by England and Wales to revive euthanasia was revived last week, with a bill tabled in Parliament by Labour MP Lauren Edwards.

Ms Edwards has threatened to use rarely used powers under the Parliament Act to force it through if the Lords block it again.

Yet her efforts to push through assisted dying legislation in the new parliamentary session have been heavily criticised by other Labour MPs, amid their concerns about the time and political capital being expended on such a controversial issue.

Her efforts to push through the legislation have been met with opposition by fellow MP Adam Jogee, who described the Bill as “deeply divisive and flawed Bill”.

Former health minister Ashley Dalton, Labour MP for West Lancashire, who has terminal cancer, said: ‘I’m deeply concerned that supporters are bringing the assisted dying Bill back.