meeting with Bernard, who chose to die in Belgium

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Video length: 3 mins.

France 3

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France 3 Nord-Pas-de-Calais, M. Schelcher, S. Gurak, J. FrançoisS. Zourli – France 3

France Televisions

Emmanuel Macron has promised an end-of-life bill by the end of the summer. In the meantime, some French people continue to go abroad to have the freedom to choose the moment of their departure, like Bernard. Encounter.

It’s just a month away. On June 12, Bernard Gammelin will bow out to the world. A chosen death, in Belgium, “a liberation”, he said. He has a month left to live the essentials, like sharing this moment of music at the nursing home. A lot of music, reunions and friendship, too. The friends of the time came to surround him, those of the Paralyzed of France, where Bernard was very active. Bernard Avril, volunteer musician, and Bernard Gammelin, met to their surprise in January, during a first concert at the nursing home.

Severely disabled and dependent since 2018

François the musician, is also the doctor who accompanies him, since his choice to resort to euthanasia in Belgium. He will be there on D-Day for “the ultimate treatment”as he calls it. “The message is very clear: don’t do it alone. Do it with your doctor or other medical structures”, advises François Guillemot, doctor and member of the medical committee. Severely disabled and dependent since 2018, Bernard has never deviated from his project. With the help of a friend, he is writing his life story. The former accountant chose until the date of his departure, in resonance with Thérèse, the love of his life.


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