The members of the convention considered that the current end-of-life framework in France was not suitableand access to active assistance in dying should be open. These same members worked with great rigor and interviewed many actors involved in the field of end of life, including patients, caregivers, scientists and philosophers. They also looked at the practices of other countries, in order to get a clearer picture of how end-of-life legislation can be established in a fair and ethical manner.
A legal framework to be defined
The current law on the end of life in France is defined by the Claeys-Leonetti law of 2016which allows only one “prolonged and continuous sedation” for patients in terminal phase whose suffering is intolerable. The members of the convention considered that this law is not sufficient and that active assistance in dying should be legalized for patients who wish it. Although the recommendations of the Citizens’ Convention on the end of life are clear, their concrete translation into law remains uncertain and to be defined. President Emmanuel Macron has expressed support for changes to end-of-life law, but has not yet taken a clear position on the issue of euthanasia and assisted suicide. He must now receive the members of the Convention to discuss their work and determine how the recommendations will be implemented (source 1).
