The Right to Life of Anencephalic Newborns

The research deals with non-voluntary euthanasia in the Netherlands. More specifically, it focuses on the treatment of anencephalic infants in Dutch neonatal wards. The common medical practice is to actively terminate their lives. This practice is observed and analyzed in the light of the main human rights treaties. The main research question is the legal status of the anencephalic newborns. Determining their status matters because it is conclusive for the protection provided to them by national legislation and international law. By figuring out their legal position we can evaluate the Dutch practice from human rights perspective.