French ethics group paves way for nationwide debate on legalizing euthanasia
Issuance of:
France took a step closer to legalizing euthanasia on Tuesday after its national ethics commission said it supported assisted suicide under strict supervision.
A long-awaited report by the National Consultative Ethics Committee (CCNE) was released ahead of an October public meeting set to consider the issue.
France needs “more humanity”, President Macron said earlier this year, pushing the country towards a “Belgian model” to decriminalize euthanasia, especially in cases of severe degenerative diseases. said he hopes to “evolve”.
“I am convinced that we must act because the inhumane situation continues and we must respond,” Macron said.
Belgian example
Euthanasia has been legal in Belgium since 2002, and an estimated two patients die every month. Minors are allowed, but such deaths are rare.
The task of the six-month citizens’ conference is to “peacefully debate” how to ethically apply dying aid in France, with a view to drafting a bill by the end of 2023. is.
Neighboring Spain, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland have already approved supervised euthanasia, but reaching political consensus on the issue has been more difficult in France.
An opinion published in June 2013 stated: CCNE I came to the conclusion that “no killing” should remain a fundamental principle of French society.
In 2016, the government Clays Leonetti’s law – This still applies today – Prohibit euthanasia of terminally ill patients and instead introduce the right to deep and continuous sedation until death.
Residents of France often travel to Belgium and Switzerland in search of the right to die, and French doctors are reported to perform an estimated 2,000 to 4,000 assisted deaths each year.
stumbling block
try to pass right to die law Decisions in the French parliament have been obstructed in recent years, mainly by right-wing opposition lawmakers.
Tuesday’s commission report marks a complete departure from its previous position.
One of the report’s authors told a press conference, “There are ways to ethically apply active death assistance under certain severe conditions where no compromises are allowed.”
surely Ifop poll In 2021, French opinion was found to contradict the country’s laws, with 93% of people saying they supported euthanasia.
https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20220913-french-ethics-body-paves-way-for-national-debate-on-legalising-euthanasia French ethics group paves way for nationwide debate on legalizing euthanasia
