The text, although promised before the end of the summer, has still not been presented. The President of the Republic is hesitant about the establishment of active assistance in dying, one of the proposals of the Citizens’ Convention on the end of life.
Emmanuel Macron has committed to legislating on the end of life, but the executive is slow to unveil its text. Still no white smoke, Wednesday October 4. The Citizens’ Convention on the end of life delivered its conclusions in April, six months ago, Emmanuel Macron had promised to “build” a text for the end of the summer. Once the Pope’s visit to Marseille had passed, some announced the bill for last weekend. But we’ll have to wait at least one, maybe two weeks, maybe more. In fact, the majority is dependent on the goodwill of Emmanuel Macron. And the more the head of state waits, the more he seems to doubt.
>> End of life: what should we expect after the conclusions of the citizens’ convention opening the way to assisted suicide and euthanasia
The main point that remains to be decided is the establishment of active assistance in dying. Three-quarters of the members of the Citizens’ Convention spoke in favor of it. But the head of state is tempted to simply introduce a “right” to access to assisted suicide. That is to say the possibility for an adult patient, suffering from an incurable illness with a short-term vital prognosis, to be prescribed a lethal product to kill themselves. But what about the fate of condemned patients incapable of administering the product themselves? Emmanuel Macron is reluctant to authorize a third party to perform this gesture, which would amount to legalizing euthanasia.
Personal beliefs and political reasons
Why so much hesitation? Firstly for reasons of conviction. In the spring, the head of state warned that he had “a personal opinion which, like that of many French people, can evolve, evolves, will evolve”. And then for political reasons. He comes up against reluctance from the right and from part of the medical world hostile to euthanasia. On the other hand, the left, whose support could be decisive for the adoption of the text in the National Assembly, does not intend to be satisfied with assisted suicide.
Deep down, Emmanuel Macron fears that what he presents as the major societal reform of his second term will tear society apart, and perhaps even its majority. However, according to opinion studies, a clear majority of French people seem in favor of the establishment of active assistance in dying. Emmanuel Macron finds it more difficult to take the plunge. Euthanasia is obviously difficult to be for and against “at the same time”.