Dr. Claire Fourcade, a palliative care doctor, has been the president of the French Society for Palliative Care (SFAP) for the past five years. Recently, at a national congress, she shared her experience of those years and expressed deep gratitude to her fellow healthcare workers.
You might feel overwhelmed at times, just like Blanquette the goat from a story. Blanquette felt lost and thought about giving up, but she decided to fight back against the wolf, even if the fight seemed hopeless. Throughout the night, as she faced the wolf, she looked at the stars and hoped to hold on until dawn.
Claire remarked, “We have chosen to be free and to fight.” She noted the passing of a new law in France that legalizes assisted suicide and euthanasia, which has raised concerns among many healthcare professionals. This speech was especially hard for her, as many in the audience felt uncertain and discouraged.
However, she emphasized that they have not given up. For the past five years, she and her colleagues have worked hard to be heard, representing the voices of both patients and caregivers. They passionately advocated for the values of care, showing how important palliative care is for society.
Claire reminded everyone that they are not alone in this struggle. She pointed out that like trees that lose their leaves each year but stand strong, they too will wait for better days. They will continue to stand firm in their commitment to compassionate care.
She spoke of the SFAP as a welcoming community for all those involved in palliative care. This community is built on strong foundations of care and concern for others, especially for the most vulnerable. Due to their collective efforts, a new law regarding palliative care passed with significant support, aiming to improve care options and ensure that patients are not alone in their suffering.
However, she expressed concern over the proposed “right to assisted dying” law, urging everyone to reflect on their core values and what they stand for. Palliative care has always been about supporting life and ensuring that patients are not abandoned, even as they face death.
Claire highlighted the fundamental ethical tension in palliative care: the refusal to cause death while promising to never abandon those who suffer. She warned that society must be cautious about changing the rules governing life and death, as it could impact the essence of care and support.
She called upon everyone to uphold the principles of compassion and solidarity, emphasizing the importance of being there for the fragile and vulnerable. The promise of palliative care is that patients will not face their suffering alone.
Throughout her speech, Claire reflected on how they have always been different, often taking a minority stance in society. They have been creative and resilient, finding ways to provide care even in the toughest circumstances. They are committed to redefining care beyond mere technicalities, focusing instead on human connections and dignity.
Claire urged her colleagues to resist the prevailing culture that seeks to deny death and instead embrace a model of care that values every individual’s dignity. She spoke of their duty to be advocates for a more humane approach to care and to continue to listen to the voices of those in need.
As she concluded, Claire expressed her gratitude to her colleagues for their dedication and courage. She acknowledged their commitment to recognizing the humanity in every person, even in the most challenging situations. Her final message was simple yet powerful: Thank you for your trust and for being a part of this important journey together.
This article has been translated and simplified by artificial intelligence from a French article “Claire Fourcade : « toutes les étoiles ne sont pas encore éteintes et la nuit n’est pas finie »”
It may therefore contain errors. The French version is the reference version..