In 2025, the Regional Euthanasia Review Committees (RTE) received 10,341 notifications. This is 3.8% more than in 2024. The number of euthanasia notifications relative to the total mortality rate decreased from 5.8% to 6%. In seven cases, the RTE concluded that the physician failed to meet the due care requirements when administering euthanasia.
Types of conditions
In the vast majority of euthanasia reports (85.35%), common physical conditions such as cancer, nervous system disorders, lung conditions, and/or cardiovascular conditions were involved. In 499 reports received by the RTE in 2025, euthanasia was granted to a patient with a form of dementia. The RTE assessed eleven reports concerning individuals who were no longer mentally competent regarding their euthanasia request. In 174 reports, the suffering stemmed (largely) from one or more mental disorders. This is 45 fewer than in 2024. None of these reports involved a minor patient. The RTE received 475 reports regarding people with a combination of age-related conditions. Finally, there were 287 reports in the residual category ‘other conditions’.
Developments in working methods
The RTE adjusted its working method on several points in 2025. The new assessment standard, the ’30-minute rule’, came into effect on July 1st. Applying it minimizes the chance that the patient experiences the effect of the muscle relaxant. If 30 or more minutes have elapsed between the administration of the coma-inducing agent and the (last administered) muscle relaxant, that risk is too great. The coma check is then no longer sufficiently reliable. In that case, the RTE will assess the report as medically negligent regardless.
In addition, the RTE has actively emphasized to stakeholders the importance of the private conversation between the patient and the consulted independent physician. Over the past year, the RTE noted that conversations between a patient and a consultant (or independent expert) regularly took place in the presence of a family member. In one case where the attending physician was present during the conversation with the consultant, this led to the judgment that not all due care requirements had been met.
Euthanasia Code now online
In the Euthanasia Code, the RTE explains the assessment method. Until now, the Euthanasia Code was a printed publication that was updated once every few years. To communicate developments in the working method to (executing) physicians more quickly, the RTE will henceforth publish the Euthanasia Code online. The RTE may publish an update every six months (on January 1 and July 1). The new Euthanasia Code will come into effect on January 1, 2026.