French President Emmanuel Macron today announced a national debate on the legalization of assisted suicide.
A 2016 French law stipulates that doctors can keep terminally ill patients under sedation before death, but does not allow assisted suicide, i.e. euthanasia.
Macron said in a written statement that a panel of citizens will work on the issue in coordination with health workers over the coming months, while local debates are being organized in French regions.
The government plans to hold parallel talks with MPs of all political parties to reach the broadest consensus, with a view to implementing the changes next year, the president’s statement said.
Some French patients travel to other European countries to seek further end-of-life options.
