Should Young Children Be Involved in the Decision-Making Process about Their Active Life Termination?

Abstract

On February 1st 2024, the Dutch government introduced the possibility for doctors to perform active life termination in terminally ill and suffering children, aged 1 to 12, under strict legal requirements. Although the ethical discussions about whether it is justified to terminate the life of a young child are still ongoing, this thesis argues under the assumption that under certain legal requirements, it is justified to terminate the life of a young child. Building on this argumentation, this thesis explores whether the young children, to whose situation active life termination would apply, should be involved in the decision-making process about their active life termination. Using Beauchamp and Childress’ ‘Four Principles Approach’, this thesis analyses the involvement of young children in this decision-making process, focussing on the biomedical principles of respect for autonomy, beneficence, and non- maleficence. This thesis argues that when the principle of respect for autonomy is taken into account, it could be considered desirable and perhaps morally necessary to involve the young child, if this child is deemed capable of making an autonomous decision. However, when the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence are taken into consideration, it could be argued that involving young children in the decision-making process about their active life termination may not be in their best interest and could potentially cause harm to these children. This thesis elaborates on the moral dilemma that arises when these biomedical principles seem to conflict with each other.