Netherlands newborn euthanasia.

[JeandeServiette]

Is this well known? I had no idea.

I was looking for adult euthanasia policy developments in Canada and the Benelux countries and accidentally found this:

www.government.nl/topics/euthanasia/euthanasia-and-newborn-infants

I thought that happened anyway. This is formally codifying the issue.

Do you think? It is worded quite passively.

I was wondering if the counterpart in UK or other countries was palliative care or vigorous NICU intervention.

It does state "discontinue treatment" rather than just "ending the life" - something which happens here anyways. I'd imagine the NHS have a policy for withdrawing treatment, in partnership with the infants parents.

It's formally stating what already happens. It's not giving a drug, it's withdrawing treatment (or not starting treatment). Not sure if it's still the case but they didn't offer life support before 26 weeks in cases of premature birth

Termination of life for newborns happens frequently, but is passive. It involves withdrawal of supportive treatment and is generally quite quick. It’s not an active act as such. This has been the case for donkey’s years.

So why are they calling it euthanasia?

Is it the other side of the coin that caused such a fuss about Liverpool pathway in Britain? Same basic idea, different interpretation?

It's strange anyway that that means "euthanasia" has a very flexible (dual?) meaning in NL.

I'm in no way medical but weirdly fascinated by this.

So do you think it's cultural difference? That that description just wouldn't be palatable here but the Dutch are balder in the way they state things?

So why are they calling it euthanasia?

Because the practice is literally the dictionary definition of the word.

What do they call it here? Palliative care? Same thing.

I'm nowhere near my trusty Collins but Oxford online dictionary gives "painless killing" as the definition of euthanasia.

In any case, NL have very active euthanasia for people 12 years and older so it seems confusing.

It's obviously a complete wormhole. Wrong thing to read over breakfast in a workday.

It happens but it's unpalatable for many people so we don't talk about it.

I'm in a group for parents who's kids have T13/18. I know people here in America who've been refused intervention because the baby was "incompatible" with life. Well yeah, the refusal to intervene will do that. Certainly when DS was born in 2015 it was hard to get surgeries for T18 babies. So of course they died.

Now I know lots of these babies will die any, assuming they even live to birth. I'm not delusional.
But I pretty much had it confirmed that if we'd had DSs' diagnosis prenatally they may not have fought so hard to being my blue baby back from the edge, likely wouldn't have operated at 13 days. I was so worried at 10 months they wouldn't operate again because of it but by then he's proven himself and the team who's saved him at 13 days want conceding defeat.

I'm sorry to hear that @SleepingStandingUp

At least the NL policy is clear and absolutely requires parental agreement.

It must be frightening to be at the mercy of a system that doesn't actually codify it, for a parent in your position.

They do.

Not going into too much detail but I know various clinicians who cannot work in certain areas of pediatrics because of it.

I also know healthcare workers you would think due to their religion and/or upbringing would be against abortion but they definitely aren't for severe disability.

I know in the UK cases can end up at Court, but no-one I personally know has been involved in a Court case.

Quite a few years ago I remember watching a documentary on the Dutch approach to premature babies. They don't provide active care to babies born before 24 weeks, or at least they didn't. I imagine this is reflected in their treatment of those born suffering. The journalist investigating had had a child born at 22 weeks who survived and she was disgusted by their attitude. It went on to show her at home with her daughter who had multiple health issues and a challenging life. I found it difficult to agree with her perspective.

I think the topic is called 'euthanasia and newborn infants' because it is in a section on the government website called 'euthanasia'. The word is not used in the text other than the title.

I don't think we should be doing invasive painful egotistical procedures on pre24 week newborns.

Leave them to pass in peace.

I think it should be a case by case basis .

I remember my cousin telling me that if his son was born before 24 weeks, they're not going to try to save him, etc
He was born at 28 weeks and spent the first 2 months in hospital.