Groninger Protocol

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The Groninger Protocol was formulated in September 2004 by the Groningen University Clinic "Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen" in the Netherlands in order to protect doctors who practice euthanasia on newborn and young children from criminal prosecution.

The protocol mentions guidelines and criteria according to which doctors can practice "termination of life for newborns" and "termination of life for children up to 12 years of age" without being able to be prosecuted. The euthanasia of newborns is permitted under the conditions of the Groninger Protocol and is protected by criminal law, so that doctors carrying out the work cannot be prosecuted for the murder of minors (who have not expressly requested euthanasia). The Dutch Public Prosecutor's Office in Groningen has accepted the Groninger Protocol and has stopped prosecuting euthanasia incidents if they have occurred in compliance with the protocol.

At the beginning of July 2005, the Dutch Association for Children's Medicine (“Nederlandse Vereniging voor Kindergeneeskunde”) adopted the Groninger Protocol as binding for practice in the field of children's medicine throughout the Netherlands.

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