Film director Zhang Luc Godard (91), who spearheaded the French New Wave cinema that revolutionized the world of cinema, has died. Godard entered the film industry in the 1960s. What followed was a journey of iconic films that rewrote the rules of cinema and influenced directors from Martin Scorsese to Quentin Tarantino.
A representative of his family stated that he died by assisted suicide in Switzerland. According to the medical report, Goddard suffered from several ailments due to old age. Goddard’s legal adviser, Patrick Jeanneret, told the AFP news agency that he had since sought legal advice on assisted suicide in Switzerland. Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland under certain circumstances.
What is Assisted Suicide?
Assisted suicide is when a person commits suicide with the help of another person. With assisted suicide, people can choose to die with the help of an expert. Adults who are terminally ill and who have been medically judged to be unlikely to return to life may choose assisted suicide. Assisted suicide is allowed with strict restrictions.
Countries where assisted suicide is legal
Assisted suicide is legal in many European countries. Assisted suicide is legal in Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Euthanasia is also legal in Switzerland. Switzerland has restrictions limiting legal suicides to foreigners.
In the wake of the death of Zhang Luc Godard, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a national debate on assisted suicide. That includes exploring the possibility of legalizing suicide for the terminally ill. In France, doctors are allowed to administer sedatives to terminally ill patients before they die. But assisted suicide is not legal. Macron said in a statement that a panel of citizens in coordination with health workers will hold further discussions on the issue in the coming months while organizing debates. The government plans to hold parallel talks with lawmakers from all political parties with the aim of implementing the changes next year, the statement said.
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The new debate in France comes at a time when European countries are relying on the choice of death for those suffering from a serious illness or who have been judged by medicine to never return to a normal life. Macron has made it clear that he is personally in favor of legalizing physician-assisted suicide.
Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland for patients taking lethal doses of medication.
Euthanasia, which allows death by direct administration of drugs by a medical professional, is currently legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain. However, this is allowed with strict restrictions. Macron is launching the talks on the same day that the family of French director Jean-Luc Godard died by assisted suicide at his home in Rolles, Switzerland. French polls in recent years have shown a majority in favor of legalizing euthanasia.
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