despite taking a position for “assisted dying”, Emmanuel Macron is still moving forward with measured steps

In an interview published by “La Croix” and “Libération”, the head of state affirms that this government bill will be presented in April to the Council of Ministers for examination at first reading in the National Assembly in May, before the European elections in June.

He postponed the arbitrations several times, but this time, Emmanuel Macron decided on the end of life. After long months of reflection and several postponements, Emmanuel Macron unveiled his “French end-of-life model” : a “help to die“which should allow certain patients, according to”strict conditions”to receive a “lethal substance“.

In an interview published by The cross And Releasethe Head of State indicates that only adults will be concerned provided that they are “capable of full and complete discernment“, suffering from a pathology”incurable” with “vital prognosis committed in the short or medium term“, and they suffer suffering”refractory“that we cannot relieve. To benefit from this news”help“, the patient will be able to make the request and will receive the notice”college” from the medical team within fifteen days. In the event of a favorable opinion, he will be issued a prescription, valid for three months, for a lethal product that he can absorb alone. Or, when he is in the inability to do so, with the assistance of a member of the medical profession or a volunteer designated by him.

To dispassionate is to depoliticize

But, however, this law on the end of life, the Head of State does not want to make it a symbol. He also says it himself: “It is neither a new right nor a freedom“, but one “possible“. He thus wants to minimize its scope in the hope of dispassion, while also using less harsh words: “assisted dying”, rather than “euthanasia” or “assisted suicide”, rejected in particular in Catholicism. And what does it matter? that the law ultimately does indeed allow assisted suicide and an exception for euthanasia. But for the Head of State, dispassion also means depoliticizing, as he managed to do at the time of the law on PMA in 2021.

While his own camp also risks being divided on the question of end of life, Emmanuel Macron wants to give deputies time, which is rare. This government bill, which will also include a component to strengthen palliative care, will be presented in April to the Council of Ministers for a first reading examination in the National Assembly in May, before the European elections in June. The parliamentary process promises to be long and the outcome will probably not come before 2025. It is undoubtedly at this price that he can hope to have the major social reform of his second term adopted.