On May 24, members of the French parliament finished reviewing a new law proposal about the “right to assisted dying.” This proposal is set to be voted on on May 27, and it includes several important points.
The proposal now consists of 19 articles. Out of a total of 2,691 suggested changes, 89 amendments were accepted by the deputies.
One key change is that the law will be added to the Public Health Code. The first article changes the title of a section to “Information for users of the healthcare system, expression of their wishes, and end of life.” It states that everyone has the right to a dignified death, which includes the option for assisted dying. This means that assisted dying will be seen as a form of care.
Article 2 defines the “right to assisted dying,” but interestingly, the terms “euthanasia” and “assisted suicide” are not used. Instead, the lawmakers prefer to call it a “right.”
According to the proposal, euthanasia would be allowed in specific circumstances, such as when a person is unable to administer the lethal substance themselves due to physical incapacity. This could even include cases where stress affects a person’s ability to make decisions.
There are five main criteria to qualify for assisted dying. First, the person must be at least 18 years old. Second, they must be a French citizen or live in France regularly. Third, they need to have a serious and incurable illness that threatens their life, which is either advanced or terminal. Fourth, they must be experiencing unbearable physical or psychological suffering that cannot be managed through treatment. Lastly, they must be able to express their wishes clearly and freely.
The law states that a request for assisted dying can be made orally or in writing, but it cannot be done over a video call. A doctor will evaluate whether the person is in a clear state of mind when making this request, but there are no specific guidelines on how to assess this.
The proposal includes a process where a doctor will consult with at least one other medical professional before making a decision. However, the final choice will be up to the doctor alone, and there is no option for family members to contest that decision.
If approved, a doctor must make their decision within 15 days, and the patient then has at least two days to reconsider. This means that someone could potentially receive assistance to die just four days after making their request.
Throughout the discussions, many protective measures for both patients and healthcare providers were rejected. For example, there are no restrictions on who can request assisted dying, including those with mental health issues or disabilities. Additionally, there is no requirement for psychological support before making such a request.
The proposal has raised concerns that once the right to assisted dying is established, it may be expanded in the future. Currently, minors are not included, but some lawmakers suggest that this could change later on.
As the vote approaches, there is a sense of uncertainty about how the deputies will respond to this significant and controversial proposal.
This article has been translated and simplified by artificial intelligence from a French article “« Droit à l’aide à mourir » : l’essentiel du texte sur lequel les députés vont se prononcer”
It may therefore contain errors. The French version is the reference version..