TrendTrackersNews

French President Emmanuel Macron revealed over the weekend that he supports a proposed legislation to implement new “end-of-life” laws for individuals with terminal illnesses in France, following months of careful consideration and reflection.

In an exclusive interview with two French newspapers, Macron stated that the phrase “helping to die” was chosen because it is straightforward and compassionate.

He expressed that there are situations that we as humans cannot emotionally handle, and this law would confront death directly.

Permitting a person with a terminal illness to administer a lethal substance themselves, or in the event that they were unable to do so, allowing them to designate someone else to do so if that person was willing.

The legislation under consideration by the government would only affect adults and requires them to have full comprehension of their actions. This would exclude patients with psychiatric or neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, from being eligible.

other

To be eligible, the patients must have a short or medium life expectancy and must be proven to not have any other conditions.

genuine solution to alleviate their pain and hardship.

The individual would subsequently seek assistance in ending their life, and a team of healthcare professionals would determine the outcome.

The bill will be presented to key ministers by Macron next month as the initial stage towards being passed into law. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal shared on social media that it will subsequently be presented to parliament in late May.

Attal emphasized the significance of the bill, stating that death is a natural aspect of life and that it is a fundamental human right to have a dignified death.

Under current French legislation, individuals who are terminally ill and experiencing intense pain, with a limited life expectancy, are permitted to receive deep and unbroken sedation.Palliative care

It falls within the scope of France’s national healthcare system.

According to Macron, the proposed legislation will outline a potential course of action, under certain circumstances and defined guidelines, where healthcare decisions are relevant. He also announced an additional $1.09 billion will be allocated towards palliative care, supplementing the current budget of $1.7 billion.

the right to die

The president stated that the decision did not pertain to the legalization of euthanasia or the right to die. assisted suicide

The individual stated that euthanasia results in the termination of someone’s life, either with or without their permission, and he was disregarding that possibility.

Macron emphasized that the legislation does not aim to establish a new entitlement or liberty, but rather to provide an avenue for individuals who are experiencing hardship to request for assistance in dying, within specific and stringent parameters. He added thatpatients, families

Prior to finalizing the proposal, we consulted with medical professionals to gather their input and feedback.

The news was welcomed by the Association for the Right to Die with Dignity. However, on Monday, Macron’s political opponents, some medical workers, and the Catholic Church expressed criticism towards the decision.

Multiple organizations focused on palliative care, cancer support, and specialized nursing released a collective statement on Monday expressing their dissatisfaction with Macron’s announcement, which they described as “violent” and not aligned with the needs of patients. The statement condemned the government for prioritizing cost-saving measures over patients’ well-being and called for increased resources for palliative care to honor patients’ wishes for a dignified end-of-life experience.

The far-right National Rally accused Macron of using the debate as a distraction leading up to the June 9 European Parliament elections. According to spokesman Laurent Jacobelli, “French citizens are primarily concerned about purchasing power, security, and immigration.”

The French Catholic bishops declined the proposed legislation. In the words of Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, the president of the bishops’ conference, such a law would redirect our healthcare system towards death, regardless of its intentions.

He stated that what allows individuals to die with humanity is not a fatal medication, but rather care, respect, and focus.

Elaine Cobbe

Source: cbsnews.com