A law on assisted dying has gone into effect in France
A law granting terminally ill adult patients the right to assisted dying has gone into effect in France. The French Constitutional Council approved the text of the law, after which it was published in the official journal, according to The Guardian.
The legislation in France is referred to as the “end-of-life” or “assisted dying” law, rather than an “euthanasia” law. The right to such assistance is granted to adult French citizens or long-term residents of the country if their illness is deemed incurable and causes unbearable suffering.
A doctor must verify that the patient meets the established criteria. Afterward, a special commission will assess whether the conditions for providing assistance have been met. If approved, the patient must wait at least two days before the procedure and confirm their decision on the day it is performed. They may withdraw their consent at any time.
Read more breaking news on the UA.News Telegram channel.
The patient must administer the lethal substance themselves. If they are physically unable to do so, a healthcare professional may assist them. Prior to the passage of the new law, France permitted, among other things, the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment and deep sedation prior to death. People seeking active means of ending their lives had to travel to countries where such practices are legal.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who promised to introduce the right to die during his 2022 re-election campaign, welcomed the passage of the law. At the same time, the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation, which provides lifelong support to people with genetic intellectual disabilities, expressed outrage, while other opponents of the bill warned of dangers to the most vulnerable people.
The Constitutional Council upheld the law in its entirety but clarified the application of provisions regarding conscientious objection. Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists may refuse to participate in the procedure. This right also applies to private, including religious, healthcare facilities if end-of-life care conflicts with their mission and if such facilities are not the only ones capable of meeting local needs.
