the citizens’ convention comes out in favor of euthanasia and assisted suicide, subject to conditions

The citizens’ convention on the end of life, which since December has brought together French people drawn by lot to guide the action of the executive on the subject, concluded its debates on Sunday April 2, confirming its majority position to legalize euthanasia or assisted suicide.

“For a majority of citizens of the convention, access to active assistance in dying must be open”is it written in its final report, which was submitted to the vote of its members on Sunday at the closing of the debates organized at the headquarters of the Social, Economic and Environmental Council (CESE), which organizes the convention.

However, it also lays down nuances and conditions. In particular, the convention does not express a majority position on the case of minors or that of persons incapable of expressing their will. The report also precisely details various positions, including the minority position against legalizing euthanasia or assisted suicide.

Difficulties in accessing what is already provided for by law

This convention, convened at the call of the government in the fall of 2022, brings together 184 French people drawn by lot, whose opinion aims to guide the action of the executive. Meeting twenty-seven days in total since December, its members had to say if the current legislation on the end of life, fixed by the Claeys-Leonetti law of 2016, appears adapted to all situations and if changes should be made.

The latter allows a “prolonged and continuous sedation”, in other words a final plunge into unconsciousness, for patients in a desperate state in the short term and whose suffering is intolerable. But it does not go so far as to authorize a “active assistance in dying”that is to say either an act of euthanasia by a caregiver, or assisted suicide.

At the end of their discussions, the French people meeting in agreement mostly felt that the current end-of-life framework was not suitable. However, they do not hold the current legislation solely responsible for this.

They also underline the concrete difficulties of access to what is provided for by law, in particular an adequate supply of palliative care. As such, the agreement emphasizes the “alarming situation” of the French health system.

A “manifesto” given in addition to the government

Beyond the single issue of euthanasia or assisted suicide, the convention therefore makes a long list of recommendations to develop palliative care and facilitate access to it.

The uncertainty now relates to the concrete translation of these recommendations, in particular the drafting of a new law. Emmanuel Macron, who had in the past spoken out for a change in the law but now refrains from speaking out clearly, must receive the participants of the convention on Monday to say what follow-up he intends to give to their work.

To see their recommendations find concrete follow-up, the participants thus chose to submit to the government, in addition to their report, a ” manifest ” – of which The world reveals the entirety here – read in the hemicycle of the Palais d’Iena on Sunday morning, at the conclusion of the work. “Take on this question of the end of life which is a major social issue”they write for the government and legislators.