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In the media: EenVandaag

Meggi Schuiling-Otten, director of the Knowledge Center for Palliative Care for Children about the importance of this scheme.


For a long time there has been thought and discussion about a form of active termination of life for young children between the ages of 1 and 12, who are terminally ill and suffer hopelessly and unbearably. The cabinet will most likely make a decision on the scheme tomorrow.

Today, Meggi Schuiling-Otten, director of the Knowledge Center for Palliative Care for Children, spoke in the studio of EenVandaag about the importance of this scheme. "The arrival of the scheme is very important, because it is now too common for this group to suffer unbearably and not be able to die in a pleasant way."

View the studio interview with Meggi Schuiling-Otten from the Knowledge Center for Pediatric Palliative Care here

This was also the conclusion in June 2022 in a doctoral research by Marije Brouwer of the UMCG into suffering in children with a life-threatening condition. But a final settlement was not forthcoming. Tomorrow that seems to change, because then the cabinet will most likely take a positive decision on the scheme.

This regulation for active termination of life in young children is a very sensitive and complex political process. "However, the ministry has tried to see how the regulation fits in with questions from practice," says UMCG researcher Brouwer.

If the regulation comes into effect, the Netherlands will be the first country in the world where this will be possible. Schuiling-Otten of the Knowledge Center for Palliative Care for Children expects criticism from abroad: "We also had that with the end of life of newborns. The arguments are understandable and often have a cultural or religious origin. As a pioneer, you can always count on criticism."

Watch the entire broadcast here .


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