the National Assembly removes the possibility of including assistance in dying in advance directives

MPs voted on Friday, May 31, to remove the possibility of including a request for assistance in dying in advance directives. This provision was added in committee against the advice of the government. The deletion amendment was adopted by 49 votes to 13. It is one of the points of tension in the debates on the end-of-life bill, currently being examined at the Palais-Bourbon.

The Minister of Health, Christine Vautrin, ardently defended what she described as “text key” : the patient’s ability to express his or her will in a free and informed manner, up to the moment of the lethal action. However, the use of advance directives assumes that the patient is no longer able to reaffirm his wishes at that time. “A major red line would be crossed”said Les Républicains MP Patrick Hetzel.

This provision was found in the part of the text relating to palliative care, and not assistance in dying. Some elected officials therefore voted for the deletion to preserve the“sealing” between palliative care and assistance in dying, and not in opposition to the content.

Some of the deputies therefore wish to open this debate again next week, during the discussion of article 6 which specifies the conditions necessary for access to assisted dying. “We are consistent, we do not mix the two titlesexplained LFI deputy René Pilato. We will have amendments that will talk about advance directives, but within the framework of title two.”

Elected officials in favor of the possibility of including assistance in dying in advance directives emphasize the freedom of the patient. “Advance directives belong to the person”, judged Renaissance MP Monique Iborra. During the debates, the deputies often explained that they shared positions “personal”, different within the same group. No group gave voting instructions on this text.