Yasmina Kattou / Photo credit: Pixabay
The text on the opening of a right to a chosen death, for incurably ill people, will be presented to the Council of Ministers in February. This Thursday, the newspaper “Le Figaro” revealed the terms of the provisional version, which will undoubtedly be somewhat revised.
Supportive care, patient rights and assistance in dying. Here are the three parts of the provisional text on the opening of a right to a chosen death for the incurably ill. The newspaper Le Figaro presented this Thursday morning the terms of this first version, while the text must be presented to the Council of Ministers in February.
In detail, this assistance will be reserved for adults who suffer from a serious and incurable condition, which is life-threatening in the short term, i.e. within 6 to 12 months. French people affected by an illness causing unbearable physical suffering are also affected.
A conscience clause
This draft of the bill also specifies the act itself, which would consist of the administration of a lethal substance, either by the person themselves, or by a caregiver or a loved one. However, the conditions for administration of the product by a third party, if the patient is incapable, are not detailed.
A doctor or nurse should be present during the procedure to speed up the death process and avoid suffering in the event of an incident during administration. Finally, a conscience clause will be proposed for caregivers who do not wish to be involved in this assistance in dying.