EU Lawmakers Urge Commission to Safeguard Finances in Support of Ukraine, Stipulating Conditions
Updated Article:
Here's a rundown of the latest developments in France regarding end-of-life choices for individuals with severe, incurable diseases.
As of May 2, 2022, a bill allowing patients to access a lethal substance during their final moments has been voted on by the French parliament. The proposal, dubbed the "right to assisted dying," is part of the broader project of law titled, "accompaniment of the sick and end of life."
The bill, defended by Annie Vidal (Renaissance), was adopted by 28 deputies, with 15 in opposition and one abstention. The majority of left-wing representatives and Macronist groups supported it, while those of the National Rally (RN) and Republicans (LR) fiercely opposed it.
Interestingly, a previous text on palliative care, carried out by Health Minister Catherine Vautrin in the spring of 2024, could not reach its conclusion due to dissolution.
The debates on these two texts will commence on May 12, 2022, with a common general discussion, and solemn votes scheduled for May 29.
Key Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for assisted death, patients must meet the following five cumulative criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must be French or resident in France.
- Must be suffering from a severe and incurable disease that engages life prognosis in the advanced or terminal phase, causing physical or psychological suffering refractory to treatment or unbearable.
- Must be able to manifest their will freely and clearly.
In the initial version of the bill, the patient's days were expected to be in danger in the short or medium term. However, the concept of "medium term" remains unclear, as it covers a broad range of timeframes.
Decision-Making Process
Patients have the free choice between self-administering the lethal product and administration by a voluntary healthcare professional, a change from the initial text, which only allowed self-administration when the patient was physically unable to do so. This evolution has been criticized by some members, including former Health Minister Agnès Firmin-Le Bodo.
As the debates on these crucial end-of-life issues continue, various political factions are engaging in heated discussions, often revolving around specific terminology and safeguards. For instance, opponents have asked for the use of terms like "euthanasia" and "assisted suicide" to be explicitly mentioned in the bill. They argue that the current version does not provide enough safeguards, such as delays, possibilities of appeal, and control. On the other hand, left-wing deputies have proposed expanding this right, but their efforts have been unsuccessful so far.
Always consult up-to-date legal sources for precise eligibility criteria and requirements, as ongoing debates and changes in legislation may affect the information provided here.
[1] Information about end-of-life decisions in Italy: [URL][2] Details about assisted dying in Canada: [URL][3] Overview of assisted suicide in Switzerland: [URL]
- Subscribe to our newsletter for daily updates from Le Monde.
- Engage with our community by subscribing and contributing.
- Reuse this content under Le Monde's guidelines.
- The bill on assisted dying in France includes criteria for eligibility, one of which is being at least 18 years old.
- French residents can potentially access a lethal substance during their final moments under the new bill about end-of-life choices.
- Annie Vidal, a member of Renaissance, defended the bill allowing patients to access assisted dying.
- The bill, titled "accompaniment of the sick and end of life," was voted on by the French parliament on May 2, 2022.
- The bill on assisted dying was passed by 28 deputies, with 15 in opposition and one abstention.
- Macronist groups and left-wing representatives mainly supported the bill on assisted dying, while the National Rally and Republicans opposed it.
- Last year, a previous text on palliative care could not reach its conclusion due to dissolution.
- Debates on the bill and a palliative care text will commence on May 12, 2022.
- A patient seeking assisted death must be suffering from a severe, incurable disease.
- In the advanced or terminal phase, their disease must cause physical or psychological suffering refractory to treatment or unbearable.
- Patients must be French or residents in France to be eligible for assisted death.
- The bill allows patients to self-administer the lethal product or have it administered by a healthcare professional.
- Some members, including former Health Minister Agnès Firmin-Le Bodo, have criticized this evolution in the decision-making process.
- Opponents of the bill have asked for terms like "euthanasia" and "assisted suicide" to be explicitly mentioned.
- They argue that the bill does not provide enough safeguards, such as delays, possibilities of appeal, and control.
- Left-wing deputies have proposed expanding this right, but their efforts have been unsuccessful so far.
- Always consult up-to-date legal sources for precise eligibility criteria and requirements.
- Assisted dying is a complex issue in policy and legislation worldwide, with various countries having different approaches.
- News about end-of-life decisions in France, Italy, Canada, Switzerland, and other countries can be found in general news sources.
- Car-accidents, fires, war and conflicts, and crime and justice can significantly impact mental health, skin health, and overall health and wellness.
- Topics such as workplace-wellness, medical-conditions, chronic diseases, cancer, respiratory conditions, digestive-health, eye-health, hearing, fitness-and-exercise, sexual-health, autoimmune-disorders, mental-health, mens-health, women's-health, parenting, weight-management, cardiovascular-health, Medicare, CBD, neurological-disorders, skin-conditions, migrants' health, and therapies-and-treatments are relevant to understanding and improving health and wellbeing.
