French citizens' council votes for euthanasia
Among the French population, euthanasia is still a sensitive issue. In January 2023, several thousands of people went to the street with a message against "planned end of life". Photo AFP, Julien de Rosa
Western Europe
The civil convention that is supposed to advise the French government on how to deal with the end of life indicated on Sunday that it would like to see the euthanasia practice expanded.
The Dutch Reformatorisch Dagblad has reported that on the basis of French media as Le Figaro.
The 184 French citizens in the plebiscite gathered last weekend for a sixth session of talks. This resulted in votes on various propositions concerning self-chosen end-of-life and assisted dying. Of the citizens present, 75 per cent indicated that they wanted space for active help with dying in France; 66 per cent would also like a green light for euthanasia.
Assisted suicide
The difference is that the doctor provides the deadly drug in the first case but does not administer it himself. In contrast, this is what happens with euthanasia. More than 55 per cent of citizens also supported assisted suicide for minors.
Sunday's votes indicate that citizens favour a more liberal approach to euthanasia. Active-assisted suicide is currently prohibited in France, but President Emmanuel Macron wants to broaden the legislation. This has been the tendency in more countries on the European continent, such as Belgium, Austria and The Netherlands.
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