“We are waiting to know the intentions of the president! » The expectation is the same at Matignon and in the ministries concerned. What decision will Emmanuel Macron take at the end of the national debate on the end of life which ends in March?
The fog could begin to lift, Wednesday, February 22, during a dinner organized at the Elysée. Sixteen personalities were invited to the presidential table, including supporters and opponents of the legalization of assisted suicide or euthanasia.
The date is not accidental. The citizens’ convention on the end of life, meeting since December 9, must issue an opinion in March on the following question: “Is the end-of-life support framework adapted to the different situations encountered or should any changes be introduced? » The approximately 180 participants drawn by lot meet again from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 February to deliberate, before three final weekends devoted to “the harmonization and restitution of their work”. However, in view of their previous debates, it appears that a majority emerged among the participants in favor of legalizing assisted suicide and/or euthanasia.
“An orderly and informed debate”
On September 13, 2022, Emmanuel Macron undertook to rely on this opinion to “consider, if necessary, the clarifications and changes to our legal framework by the end of 2023”. “I am convinced that we must move because there are inhuman situations that exist and we must provide a response, he explained again on February 12. But the subject is anything but easy and simple. »
It is all the less so since the will of the Head of State to carry out a “Orderly, serene and informed debate” has led to divisive issues having hardly been resolved so far within the executive, although two working groups bringing together parliamentarians and health professionals have been brought together. Wednesday’s dinner should allow Mr. Macron to test possible points of agreement.
The Head of State will be accompanied by three ministers, François Braun (health), Olivier Véran (democratic renewal) and Agnès Firmin Le Bodo (territorial organization and health professions). Among the supporters of a legalization of “active assistance in dying” were invited Jean-François Delfraissy, president of the National Consultative Ethics Committee (CCNE), Alain Claeys, co-author of the CCNE opinion delivered on September 13 2022, which ” leading the way ” to an evolution. Thierry Beaudet is invited as president of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, organizer of the citizens’ convention. But, in 2020, he had come out in favor of the “right to choose a dignified end of life”. Mr. Macron also invited Doctor Denis Labayle, an activist for the right of the sick to be helped to die, in certain cases.
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