Should euthanasia be authorized in France? A citizens’ convention, which for months has brought together French people drawn by lot, will probably recommend, on Sunday April 2, the legalization of a “active assistance in dying”. The aim is to guide the action of the government, which in the fall requested the holding of this convention in a context of resumption of debates on the end of life, at the initiative in particular of Emmanuel Macron. The Head of State has been planning for a long time to modify the current legislation, which does not go so far as to authorize a “active assistance in dying”, that is to say an assisted suicide or an act of euthanasia. Follow our live.
Debates for three months. “Is the end-of-life support framework adapted to the different situations encountered or should any changes be introduced?” This question has animated for three months the debates of the 184 French people drawn by lot, who belong to the citizens’ convention on the end of life. Answer this Sunday, at noon. The participants will vote to ratify a report which will mention in particular the merits of legalizing euthanasia or assisted suicide. After this solemn vote to adopt the final document, at 12:15 p.m., Claire Thoury, member of the CESE, president of the Governance Committee will deliver a speech, followed by Thierry Beaudet, president of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE).
A modification of the current law? Emmanuel Macron has long been planning to modify the current legislation, set by the Claeys-Léonetti law of 2016. This allows caregivers to irreversibly sedate patients near death, whose case is hopeless and whose suffering is intolerable. But it does not go so far as to authorize a “active assistance in dying”that is to say an assisted suicide or an act of euthanasia.
The final decision rests with Emmanuel Macron. What will the executive do with this work, which, after being criticized for having largely neglected the conclusions of a previous convention on the climate, has several times warned that it will not resume as is those on the end of life? ? In the end, Emmanuel Macron will decide. And his position is a big unknown. Neither the Head of State nor his Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne will be present on Sunday. But Emmanuel Macron will receive the members of the citizens’ convention on Monday.