End of life: Elisabeth Borne urges the citizens' convention to be "free"

Europe 1 with AFP 8:14 p.m., December 9, 2022

"Be free" to "emancipate yourselves from received ideas, to express your doubts, your disagreements", declared Elisabeth Borne on Friday opening the citizens' convention on the end of life, which some 200 French people drawn by lot will debate for three months.

In March, they will say whether or not to change the current law, without guarantee of being followed, based on this question: "Is the end-of-life support framework adapted to the different situations encountered or should any changes be introduced?

“Answering this question will lead you to discuss many subjects”, such as access to palliative care, ethical requirements or even support in bereavement, underlined Elisabeth Borne.

President Emmanuel Macron had asked in September for this convention to be held on this sensitive issue, marked by significant political and societal divisions.

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- What will be the use of the Citizen's Convention on the end of life, which opens this Friday?

The terms "euthanasia" or "assisted suicide" are not explicitly mentioned.

But participants will consider whether to legalize one or the other.

"It is not an easy mission entrusted to you", admitted Ms. Borne, who pleaded for "a reflection in nuances and in responsibility".

"Issue of humanity" 

“The medical decision is obviously central, but it is only one aspect of the debate. The end of life is also a human issue, a requirement for anticipation, support, an ethics of care. So, in your exchanges, try to constantly embrace the questions in their entirety and their singularity, to imagine yourself in the position of the other”, she enjoined.

For the French drawn by lot in recent weeks - 173 at the last score, a figure which could increase slightly - the principle will be the same as during the previous citizens' convention, which looked at the climate three years ago.

The idea is to advise the executive, at the latter's request.

The current law, known as Claeys-Leonetti and the latest version of which dates from 2016, provides for "deep sedation" for terminally ill patients with intractable suffering, but does not authorize euthanasia or assisted suicide.

Should this framework be changed?

The French drawn by lot will think about it, with in mind an opinion delivered in September by the National Consultative Ethics Committee (CCNE).

"Everything is open"

Impossible for the moment to know if the citizens' convention will follow this path: "everything is open", assured Thursday, during a press conference, Claire Thoury, who leads her organization within the Economic, Social and Environmental Council ( Cesa).

The participants in the convention, whose draw has been weighted by considerations of age or geographical origin, will meet during nine three-day sessions, staggered over three months.

They will first be trained in debates on the end of life and will meet personalities such as, starting this weekend, Alain Claeys, co-author of the current law.

They will then debate from January to deliver their conclusions in March.

But, great unknown, what will the executive do with it?

It had only implemented a small part of the recommendations of the climate convention.

The convention is not intended to "legislate" 

The Prime Minister promised Friday to "return" to the convention to "present the follow-up that will be given to (these) work" while specifying that the role of the latter "was not to legislate".

Emmanuel Macron's intentions seem increasingly uncertain.

The head of state, who had initially seemed very keen to "move" on the end of life, seemed more withdrawn recently. 

The position of the executive is all the more difficult to understand as the government has itself engaged in discussions on the end of life, with parliamentarians and caregivers.

All of this work will be coordinated by Ministers Olivier Véran (Democratic Renewal) and Agnès Firmin Le Bodo (Health Professions).