“We must hear” the Citizens’ Convention in favor of active assistance in dying, reacts Didier Martin, Renaissance deputy

“You have to hear it”reacted Didier Martin, Renaissance MP for Côte-d’Or, co-rapporteur of the Claeys-Leonetti 2016 law assessment mission and member of the National Consultative Ethics Committee, while the Citizens’ Convention voted overwhelmingly in favor of favor of active assistance in dying in France.

>> End of life: “The ball is in the government’s court”, according to the governance committee of the citizens’ convention

“There is no question of going against a majority of the opinion. When you have a very large majority, 84% who say that the current situation does not respond to all situations, you have to hear it”, he said. Citizens still have a month to refine their proposals. The conclusions will be delivered in March, but the government has not undertaken to take up the recommendations of the Citizens’ Convention as they stand.

“When you have three citizens out of four who express that active assistance in dying is needed, medical assistance in dying, you have to hear it and define of course, under what conditions, in what medical framework, in what social and human.”

Didier Martin, Renaissance MP

at franceinfo

Groups of caregivers published a forum on February 16 in Le Figaro (article reserved for subscribers) to reject euthanasia, a practice “incompatible” with their job. “There must indeed be a strict and absolute conscience clause. There is no question of forcing any caregiver to practice this active assistance in dying”says Didier Martin.

According to him, “a law is essential for a very small minority of patients who persist in expressing their request for active assistance in dying. Today, teams who are going to do that, they would be illegal and today, people who can access this help are forced to go to a foreign country.”