France: Macron supports ‘help to die’ law; to present parliamentary bill on assisted dying in May

French President Emmanuel Macron, on Monday (March 11) announced his backing for a new legislation regarding end-of-life care, proposing to introduce a draft bill to parliament in May.

Macron in an interview with Liberation newspaper, refrained from calling the proposed legislation euthanasia or assisted suicide, preferring the term “help to die,” drawing a clear distinction from existing laws in neighbouring countries.

“It does not, strictly speaking, create a new right nor a freedom, but it traces a path which did not exist until now and which opens the possibility of requesting assistance in dying under certain strict conditions,” he said.

The proposed legislation aims to establish strict conditions for end-of-life assistance, requiring assessment by a medical team to ensure the decision’s legitimacy and appropriateness. It would apply solely to adults capable of decision-making, facing a medium-term life prognosis threat, such as terminal cancer.

Additionally, Macron also highlighted provisions for family involvement, allowing them to appeal decisions regarding end-of-life assistance.