The end of life remains a delicate subject on which the executive wants to advance on tiptoe. The possibility of authorizing “active assistance in dying” will “probably” lead to a law, however, the government spokesman said on Thursday while remaining cautious regarding its content. “I note that there is clearly a spirit of openness towards legalizing active assistance in dying in the form of euthanasia, assisted suicide,” said Olivier Véran on France Inter.
Asked to say if there would be a law on this delicate subject, he replied: “probably”. The approximately 180 participants in the citizens’ convention on the end of life voted overwhelmingly in favor of changing the law for “active assistance in dying” during a vote on Sunday. Regarding the terms of access to this aid in dying, 72% were in favor of assisted suicide, 66% in favor of euthanasia.
“The basics of a calendar”
“It is not a final opinion, be careful, it is a first deliberation”, “they are brought to vote, even to vote once more on the same subjects. Let’s wait for the end of the convention to be able to draw conclusions, ”added Olivier Véran, however. Emmanuel Macron, who wanted this convention made up of citizens drawn by lot, plans to change the law. The President of the Republic must receive the members of the convention following the end of their work scheduled for March 19, probably from March 20 according to a government source.
On March 9, according to this same source, he must receive several personalities for dinner to discuss the theme of the end of life, including representatives of the main cults. Then, by the end of March, the Head of State will lay “the foundations of a timetable” and will determine “the conditions for modifying the law”, explained the government spokesman. Since 2016, the so-called Claeys-Leonetti law has made it possible to go as far as “deep and continuous sedation” of certain patients until their death, without however making it possible to actively cause their death or to give them the means to do so.
