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Knowledge Center for Palliative Care for Children supports the active termination of life scheme for 1 - 12 years

What does the scheme mean for the Knowledge Center for Palliative Care for Children?


Today, April 14, 2023, the cabinet has decided that there will be a regulation for the termination of life of sick children aged 1 to 12 who are suffering seriously and without hope.

Important development

The Knowledge Center for Palliative Care for Children supports this positive decision. With regard to children aged 1 - 12 years, the scheme will concern a small group of terminally ill children who suffer hopelessly and unbearably and whose palliative care options are not sufficient to alleviate their suffering. Nevertheless, the Knowledge Center will play an important role in the following topics, among others.

Points of attention

  • The Physician Support Center for Children's End of Life, which is part of the Knowledge Center for Palliative Care for Children, can play an important role in supporting doctors. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport will tackle the implementation together with the professional groups and other relevant organisations, such as patient (interest) organisations.
  • Case histories are currently not systematically collected. The NVK and the Knowledge Center for Palliative Care for Children are tackling this together and will discuss the options for this.
  • With regard to training and information, the professional groups and the Knowledge Center for Palliative Care for Children can play a significant role. In this context, a new impulse will also be given to the Physician Support Center for Children's End of Life.
  • In the context of perinatal palliative care and termination of life for newborns and late termination of pregnancy, a working group has been set up, consisting of: The Knowledge Center for Palliative Care for Children, the professional groups (NVOG and NVK), Stille Levens/Kenniscentrum Babysterfte and the VSOP.

We will carefully share the developments with regard to the active termination of life scheme for children aged 1-12 on this website.

Extra attention

Tonight in Nieuwsuur (NPO 2), Eduard Verhagen, professor of pediatric palliative care, shares his vision on this development, together with the minister and Ilse Zaal-Schuller (AVG).


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