“Be Free” of “emancipate yourself from received ideas, to express your doubts, your disagreements”said Elisabeth Borne, opening Friday, December 9 the citizens’ convention on the end of life, which will debate for three months some two hundred French people drawn by lot. “Faced with the work that awaits you, I have only one recommendation: be free”urged the Prime Minister at the premises of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) in Paris.
“Free to emancipate yourself from received ideas, to express your doubts, your disagreements, to share your experiences, to let yourself be convinced, and of course, above all, to defend your opinions, your convictions, for the sake of the common good”, she added. The head of government promised to ” come back “ before the convention for “Present the follow-up that will be given to [ces] works “.
The work of this new citizens’ convention, announced in September by Emmanuel Macron, will have to settle a 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 topics”such as access to palliative care, ethical requirements or support in bereavement, listed Elisabeth Borne.
The terms of“euthanasia” or of “assisted suicide” are not explicitly mentioned. But the participants will no doubt consider the relevance of legalizing one or the other. This sensitive issue is marked by major political and societal divisions.
“Relation to life, suffering and death”
“It is not an easy mission entrusted to you”admitted the Prime Minister. “This is not a debate that has a right and a wrong answer. On the contrary, it is a reflection in nuances and in responsibility. Which pushes us to question, more broadly, our model of society and solidarity. Our relationship to life, suffering and death. »
“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 ethic of care.she pointed out.
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: advising the ‘executive.
The current law, called Claeys-Leonetti and whose latest version dates from 2016, provides for a “deep sedation” for the terminally ill and suffering unrelentingly, but does not authorize euthanasia or assisted suicide.
Should this framework be changed? The French drawn by lot will think about it, with a opinion delivered in September by the National Consultative Ethics Committee. This body, whose opinions do not have the force of law but serve as a reference for public policies, has for the first time deemed it possible to legalize a “active assistance in dying”but under many conditions and without unanimity of its members.