French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed his support for proposed legislation regarding assisted suicide in France. In an interview published in the Libération and La Croix newspapers, Macron revealed plans to present a draft law to the French National Assembly in May.
Under the proposed legislation, terminally ill patients who are capable of making decisions and are suffering from a life-threatening illness with no alleviable pain would be permitted to request euthanasia. Macron outlined that requests for assisted suicide would be processed within a maximum period of two weeks.
The legislation suggests that patients, wherever feasible, would be responsible for administering the lethal doses to themselves. Currently, administering fatal medication to another person is illegal in France, although passive assistance in dying, such as discontinuing life-support measures or providing potent pain relief that accelerates death as a side effect, is allowed.
The issue of assisted suicide remains contentious in France. Macron had initially signaled the government’s intent to address this matter in the autumn, following which an extensive consultation process was launched. A majority of the participants voiced support for legalizing assisted suicide.
France’s Ethics Council (CCNE) determined that active assistance in dying could be permissible under strict conditions. According to the Élysée Palace, decisions regarding assisted suicide would involve consultations, with at least two doctors jointly deciding on the matter.
Furthermore, the proposed legislation allows health professionals to decline participation in assisted suicide services, provided they refer patients to alternative healthcare providers.
