the president of the governance committee of the Citizens’ Convention on the end of life welcomes the “balance” of Emmanuel Macron’s project

Invited on Monday on franceinfo, Claire Thoury, sociologist and president of the governance committee of the Citizens’ Convention on the end of life, reacted to Emmanuel Macron’s announcements on a bill for “assisted dying.”

“It seems to me that it is important to succeed in maintaining a balance, at least for the moment, between citizen expectations which are extremely strong and at the same time calls for caution from some”declared, Monday March 11, on franceinfo sociologist Claire Thoury, in reaction to the announcement by Emmanuel Macron of a bill, in April, for a “assisted dying” very supervised. Afterwards, “there is the parliamentary work that will follow”with possible modifications, recalls the president of the governance committee of the Citizens’ Convention on the end of life.

The text “opens up the possibility of requesting assistance in dying under certain strict conditions”, explains Emmanuel Macron in an interview with Libération and La Croix. 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 cannot be relieved.

“It is in line with what the Convention proposed”

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 unable to do so, with the assistance of a member of the medical profession or a volunteer designated by him.

“On the choice of words, it is in line, in a certain way, with what the Convention proposed”underlines Claire Thoury, even if “it’s more structured, more careful, there are a lot of safeguards that are put in place.” “We are not talking about euthanasia or assisted suicide, but there is definitely an opening towards assistance in dying which is possible”she adds.

It prevents, “that’s what is actually proposed: a form of assisted suicide with exceptions for euthanasia. These are not the words that are used, no doubt to outline this famous model of active French-style assistance in dying that he announced on April 3 before the citizens of the Convention.”