Groningen Protocol

The Groningen Protocol is a set of guidelines from the Netherlands that allows doctors to ethically assess whether to end the life of newborns with severe, irreversible disabilities or health conditions that cause suffering. Developed in 2005, it emphasizes careful medical, ethical, and legal considerations, ensuring decisions are made with parental consent and thorough evaluation. The protocol aims to prevent suffering in infants for whom no reasonable quality of life is possible, while maintaining strict safeguards to protect vulnerable patients and uphold ethical standards.