Dijon: Alain Cocq accepts his hospitalization after 4 days without treatment

Alain Cocq, who suffers from an incurable disease and has interrupted all treatment and food for four days, was transferred to Dijon University Hospital on Monday evening to benefit from palliative care "because he was in too much pain", his representative reported on Tuesday.

"I am sorry but I need serenity to leave, in peace, without suffering", declared Alain Cocq to Sophie Medjeberg, lawyer and vice-president of the association Handi-Mais-Pas-Que, appointed as representative by the Dijonnais to assist him in his end of life.

The latter told AFP that Alain Cocq was "hospitalized yesterday (Monday) evening after an intervention of the Samu", confirming information from RTL radio.

Sophie Medjeberg had initially confided that she feared that the patient had been transported and treated against her will.

But the latter confirmed to him over the phone that it was his own decision, and that he had requested palliative care.

"He objected to the refusal of treatment. He was in too much pain, it was too hard. He still wants to leave but in a process without suffering. It was too difficult," said Sophie Medjeberg.

Sophie Medjeberg was not able to specify Tuesday evening if Alain Cocq was again fed and hydrated by the doctors.

Contacted by AFP, the Dijon University Hospital was not immediately available to comment on this information.

Alain Cocq appealed to Emmanuel Macron

Alain Cocq's representative had contacted the patient's doctor on Monday evening to ask him to provide comfort care after the caregiver who accompanies Alain Cocq had noticed that "he was delusional, had foam on his lips and blood in the stool ".

It was only after the fact that the latter learned of her transfer to Dijon University Hospital.

Despite the confirmation of Alain Cocq, Sophie Medjeberg remains convinced "that we helped her to make this decision", even if she affirms "to respect her choice". 

In "terminal phase for 34 years", as he says, Alain Cocq suffers from a rare and very painful genetic disease which blocks his arteries.

Failing to have obtained from President Emmanuel Macron an injection of barbiturates "on a compassionate basis" to shorten his suffering, he had decided to let himself die at home, ceasing all treatment, food and hydration since Friday evening.  

He had wanted to broadcast his agony live on Facebook in an attempt to change the end-of-life legislation, but the social network blocked the video on Saturday morning.

The Claeys-Léonetti law on the end of life, adopted in 2016, only authorizes deep sedation for people whose vital prognosis is "in the short term".

What Alain Cocq cannot prove.