“We are in the process of taking a dramatic step”, believes Mgr Éric de Moulins-Beaufort

“We are in the process of taking a dramatic approach at a time when we are not very lucid on this subject,” castigates Tuesday June 4 on franceinfo Monseigneur Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, president of the Conference of Bishops of France. Examination of the end-of-life bill continues in the National Assembly all week with a view to a first reading vote on June 11. MEPs continue their debates on Tuesday on the sensitive Article 5, establishing the framework for assistance in dying for people suffering from “serious and incurable condition”.

“This is a tipping point, the French must be well aware of it”reacts Mgr Éric de Moulins-Beaufort. “It’s possible that our country will allow a certain number of people to perform lethal injection on other people. And I think that’s going to be a huge change to our entire health care system.”he adds.

The president of the Conference of Bishops of France believes that “the population felt little concerned” when the Citizens’ Convention on the end of life produced its work. But “now that it’s becoming concrete, I hear more and more people questioning themselves, questioning me, questioning other people.” However, if Mgr Éric de Moulins-Beaufort encourages debates, he is not in favor of a referendum, because “this method of consultation lends itself a little too much to simplification”.

Monsignor Éric de Moulins-Beaufort believes that it is not necessary to make a new law. “For years, we have been given the idea that we die badly in France, that we will die painfully, that we are poorly supported in hospital, but that is not true”, he says. According to him, “we must apply the Claeys-Leonetti law for real” with some “investments” for better care of patients at the end of life.