French President Emmanuel Macron has announced new legislative reforms aimed at legalizing “assisted dying” practices. In an interview with La Croix and Liberation newspapers, Macron stated that these legal reforms, which would offer the option to end the lives of adults battling incurable illnesses with no treatment options, represent a first for the country.
Macron emphasized that the scope of the bill would be limited to adults struggling with incurable diseases resulting in expected death, as well as those experiencing unbearable physical or psychological suffering. He underscored that this new regulation aims to involve medical criteria-driven assessments.
Highlighting individuals battling fatal diseases like cancer, Macron noted that some prefer to end their lives in such circumstances. However, he stressed that participation in this process requires individuals to have sound mental capacity and the ability to make their own decisions. Additionally, he specified that individuals with severe psychiatric disorders or neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s would not be eligible for participation.
Macron explained that those seeking assisted dying would need to confirm their decision 48 hours later and would then undergo evaluation by a medical team within a maximum of two weeks. At the end of this process, a doctor could prescribe a lethal dose of medication. He mentioned that individuals could receive these medications at home, in nursing homes, or in healthcare facilities, and those physically unable to carry out the process could receive assistance from a doctor or nurse.
Macron defended the use of the term “assisted dying” in the law, stating it was “simple and humane,” opting for it over terms like “medically assisted suicide” and “euthanasia.”
Regarding the implementation of the law, Macron indicated it would begin in May without specifying a precise date, and the legislative process could take months to complete. He noted that while a French law passed in 2016 granted doctors the authority to sedate terminally ill patients, it did not permit assisted suicide or euthanasia.
Macron drew attention to some French patients seeking more options by traveling to other European countries, reminding them that countries like Switzerland and Portugal allow assisted suicide, while euthanasia is legal under specific conditions in countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Spain.
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