The “bill relating to the support of the sick and the end of life”, which establishes “assisted dying” under conditions for patients suffering from a “serious and incurable condition”, was sent to the Council of 'State.
“To access assisted dying”, a person must simultaneously fulfill five conditions, according to the government text of which AFP obtained a copy this Monday: “be at least 18 years old”, “be of French nationality or residing in a stable and regular manner in France", "being able to express one's will in a free and informed manner", "being affected by a serious and incurable illness affecting one's vital prognosis in the short or medium term", and “present refractory or unbearable physical or psychological suffering linked to this condition”.
The bill, the outlines of which Emmanuel Macron revealed a week ago, must be presented to the Council of Ministers in April before arriving at the plenary session of the National Assembly on May 27 for a first reading.
According to the wording adopted by the executive, “assisted dying consists of the administration of a lethal substance, carried out by the person themselves or, when the person is not physically able to do so. , by a doctor, a nurse or a volunteer designated by them.
The patient requests it “from a doctor” who examines his file, taking the advice of at least another doctor “who does not know the person, a specialist in the person's pathology if he himself does not. is not”, and a “paramedical health professional”, if possible in connection with the patient.
Fifteen day deadline
But the doctor then decides alone, “after a period of fifteen days”, whether he authorizes access to assisted dying.
Then, the patient must “reiterate his wishes” after “a reflection period” of at least two days.
The doctor then prescribes a “lethal substance”.
The patient will be “accompanied” by a doctor or nurse in this process, even if he or she administers the product alone.
Any caregiver can refuse to participate in this assistance in dying.
Only the patient who is refused “access to assistance in dying” can challenge this decision, “before the administrative jurisdiction”, according to the bill.
President Macron had mentioned a possibility of “appeal” for family members, which was ultimately not accepted.
The text contains another part aimed at “strengthening supportive care and the rights of patients”.
Also read “Yes, there are reservations”: on the end of life, the majority not so united
This new concept of “supportive care” must replace “palliative care” in the law, with a broader definition: it will be “comprehensive care of the sick person to preserve their quality of life and their well-being and through support for those around them.”
The text also lays the legal foundations for creating “support homes”, one of the priorities of the ten-year plan to strengthen palliative care that the executive must unveil by the end of March.