“
This is not a plea for euthanasia
.”
Thomas Misrachi
, reporter for TF1, signs
Le Dernier Soir
(Editions Grasset), a work in which he recounts the journey of a woman who resorted to medically assisted suicide.
Named Sylvie in the book, her name was Jacqueline Jencquel and she was the vice-president of the association for the right to die with dignity.
In 2018, an interview given to Hugo Clément at
Konbini
highlighted it.
Invited on the “Buzz TV” set this Monday, Thomas Misrachi explains his approach to us.
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“
This is the story of the last hours I spent with a friend.
The story of this extraordinary woman and her struggles
,” describes the man who accompanied his friend until her last breath, in a hospital in Switzerland.
“
She killed herself because she loved life.
She had had an extraordinary life and she did not want to see herself dissolve and waste away, to be deprived of everything that gave her joy.
She decided on this act when she was still intellectually capable of doing it
.
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When this mother of three children asks him to accompany her, Thomas Misrachi hesitates.
In France, this practice is illegal.
“
I broke the law by being there that night.
And she was a friend, who wants to lose a friend?
Person.
» And added: “
Obviously, I am afraid of being prosecuted, of going to prison, of being convicted.
I am not a standard bearer and obviously I do not want to find myself behind bars
,” he concedes again.
“My daughter will be around thirty the day I disappear”
Thomas Misrachi
Like Jacqueline Jencquel, Thomas Misrachi made the decision to end his life when he turned 75, in 2046. “
For the same reasons.
I want to leave in full awareness and prepare those I love for this.
(...) I don't want to face what comes next.
I hope I will be free to make that choice
.”
And to specify: “
Maybe it will be at 76 or 77 years old.
The one I call Sylvie in my book postponed her action several times because there was Covid and a grandson was born on the other side of the world and she wanted to see him
,” nuance -he.
Also read “Neither nursing home, nor memory lapses, nor old age”: journalist Thomas Misrachi wishes to kill himself after his 75th birthday
How do those around him react to his radical decision?
“
There are those who consider that you are going to change your mind, that you are a little crazy.
There are those who respect this choice.
I've had this belief for over a decade, people have gotten used to the idea
.
He wants to clarify: “
Death, I talk about it because there is the book but otherwise, never on a daily basis.
My only worry is my 6 year old daughter.
She is a little young but the day she is able to understand, we will talk about it
,” he continues before planning ahead.
“
She will be around thirty the day I disappear.
It's a debate, she may not agree with me.
She may have other beliefs.
But I am his father, and I am also a man.
I hope she will have the intelligence to understand me and the love sufficient to accept it
.”
To conclude, Thomas Misrachi summarizes and compares the act of medically assisted suicide to jumping off a diving board: “
when you get on a diving board to jump or dive, if you go suddenly, you are not afraid .
If you look down, you hesitate and sometimes you give up.
Don't think it's easy to do.
Sylvie was terrified that evening.
And I'm scared too.
I don’t want to die, I have a wonderful life, I’m very happy
.”