French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a groundbreaking new legislation that will legalize 'aid in dying' for adults facing end-of-life illnesses in the country. This move comes in response to a report from last year showing strong support among French citizens for legalizing end-of-life options.
In an interview with French newspapers, Macron revealed that the new bill will allow adults suffering from incurable illnesses and experiencing 'intractable' physical or psychological pain to access lethal medication. The law will be limited to those expected to die in the short or middle-term.
Macron emphasized that the legislation aims to provide a compassionate option for individuals in determined situations, with precise criteria guiding the medical decision-making process. He cited the example of individuals with terminal cancer who have previously sought end-of-life options abroad.
Under the new law, only adults aged 18 and above who are capable of making their own decisions will be eligible for aid in dying. Those with severe psychiatric conditions or neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease will not qualify.
Patients seeking aid in dying will need to confirm their choice after 48 hours and receive a response from a medical team within two weeks. A doctor will then issue a prescription for lethal medication, valid for three months.
Individuals will have the option to take the medication at home, in a nursing home, or at a healthcare facility. If needed, they can receive assistance from a chosen individual, doctor, or nurse.
Macron clarified that the legislation will use the term 'aid in dying' to describe the process, emphasizing its simplicity and humanity over terms like euthanasia or medically assisted suicide.
The implementation of the new law will undergo a legislative process starting in May, with no specific timeline provided by Macron. France currently allows doctors to sedate terminally ill patients before death but does not permit assisted suicide or euthanasia.
While some French patients seek end-of-life options in other European countries like Switzerland and Portugal, euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Spain under specific conditions.
