The French parliament on Monday began debating a bill to legalise “assisted dying”, which the health minister says is not euthanasia, French media reported.
The bill aimed at legalising “assisted dying” will be debated in the lower house of parliament, or National Assembly, for a fortnight, with a final vote scheduled for June 11.
At the start of the session, Health Minister Catherine Vautrin presented the proposed bill to the National Assembly, emphasising its importance for passage. She also said, persuading other members to support the government in passing the bill:
“What ethical response can we give to unbearable situations of suffering? Can we turn a blind eye to situations of unbearable pain that medicine and the current legislation cannot answer? Can we accept that some of our citizens go abroad to end their days?The current legislation in force is no longer enough.”
The criteria for assisted dying include age over 18 years, the presence of a serious and incurable disease in advanced or terminal stages, a physical condition that is untreatable and unbearable, as well as associated psychological suffering, and the ability to freely express one’s will.
The patient himself may administer lethal substances in assisted dying, if he is capable, by a doctor, nurse or by someone designated by the patient who agrees to administer them.
Legal features of the bill
Meanwhile, the bill also provides for a one-year prison sentence and a fine of 15,000 euros (about $16,300) for attempting to prevent someone from participating in or learning about an assisted dying programme.
Vautrin also explained that this is not a model of euthanasia, as a bystander only intervenes if the patient is unable to physically inject himself or herself with a lethal substance. However, it is not essentially a suicide authorisation as there are strict conditions and a medical decision.
She said that the bill was truly French and did not copy the examples of Belgium, Switzerland, Spain or Austria.
