France: a citizens' convention opens around the law on the end of life

President Emmanuel Macron has decided to launch a citizens' convention on the end of life in October, after the publication by the National Consultative Ethics Committee of an opinion in favor of active assistance in dying, strictly supervised.

(illustration photo) Getty Images/iStockphoto - doble-d

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2 mins

Should the law on the end of life be changed in France?

Nearly 180 French people will debate it within a citizens' convention which opens this Friday, December 9 in Paris, and which is organized on the model of the citizens' convention on the climate.

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These 180 people are representative of the diversity of French society.

Volunteers to participate in this convention after being drawn by lot, they will meet for nine three-day sessions until next March, before submitting their conclusions to the government.

The purpose of this citizens' convention on the end of life is to reflect on whether or not to change

.

This law allows a deep and continuous sedation until death for incurable patients when the vital prognosis is committed in the short term, and that the sufferings are inappeasable.

If the right to let die is recognized by the law, it prohibits active euthanasia as well as assisted suicide.

Advisory opinion

But

to the different situations encountered?

Or should any changes be made?

This is the question that this citizens' convention will have to answer.

The National Consultative Ethics Committee (CCNE) has just, for the first time, judged possible “ 

” under “ 

 ”.

CCNE's opinion was not given by the majority of its members, but it marks an important development.

The participants in the convention will first be trained in debates on the end of life, by meeting specialists in ethical or religious issues and caregivers, in particular those who accompany the end of life in palliative care units.

They will also study the legislation of other countries, some of which, such as Belgium or Switzerland,

.

Then, place to the debates then to the proposals which will be submitted to the government in the spring without guarantee on their implementation.

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