PARIS (Reuters) – The National Consultative Ethics Committee (CCNE), in an opinion made public on Tuesday, believes that a way exists in France “for an ethical application of active assistance in dying under certain strict conditions”.
The French presidency announced the launch in October, for a period of six months, of a citizens’ convention on this highly delicate subject.
“All of this work will make it possible to consider, if necessary, the clarifications and changes to our legal framework by the end of 2023”, specifies the Elysée in a press release.
“If the legislator were to take up this subject, the CCNE considers ‘that there is a way for an ethical application of active assistance in dying, under certain strict conditions, with which it seems unacceptable to compromise'”, specifies the instance in a press release.
“These should inseparably combine the strengthening of public health measures in favor of palliative care and the consideration of major ethical benchmarks in the legislative measures that would be taken”, underlines the CCNE.
The possibility of legal access to assisted suicide “should be open to adults suffering from serious and incurable illnesses, causing refractory physical or psychological suffering, whose vital prognosis is committed in the medium term”, considers the committee.
The request for active assistance in dying should be expressed by a person with decision-making autonomy at the time of the request, in a free, informed and repeated manner. The decision to follow up should then be the subject of a reasoned written record and would be taken by the doctor in charge of the patient following a collegial procedure bringing together other health professionals.
This opinion was voted on by a majority of CCNE members, but eight of them expressed a “reservation”.
“The necessary time will be taken, and all guarantees must be given to ensure the conditions for an orderly, serene and informed debate”, indicates the Elysée.
The Claeys-Leonetti law opened in France in February 2016 a right to deep and continuous sedation until death, for patients in palliative care.
(Written by Sophie Louet, edited by)