French President Emmanuel Macron announces plans for French assisted dying law as Scotland Proposal progresses

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a national debate on assisted dying will take place in France with the launch of a citizens’ convention, with a view to legalising assisted dying by the end of 2023. In a statement released today (Tuesday 13th September 2022), President Macron said, following recommendations from the French National Consultative Committee on Ethics, the citizens’ convention will begin in October, with a report on its findings to be released in March 2023. The French Government will concurrently work with Parliamentarians to develop draft legislation, the President said.

According to French media reports, President Macron has voiced his personal support for the legalisation of assisted dying in France and nine tenths of French citizens are in favour of law change. The law in France currently allows for terminally ill people to request “deep, continuous sedation, altering consciousness until death” in some circumstances. but only when their condition is likely to lead to a quick death. Patients are also allowed to refuse life-sustaining treatments, as in the UK. A bill to legalise assisted dying failed to progress in the French parliament in April 2021 after just five MPs filed over 2,000 amendments to block its progress.

The news comes less than a week after Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, lodged a final proposal in the Scottish Parliament for his Members Bill ‘Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland)’. The proposals received the highest number of responses to date for a public consultation on a Members Bill in the Scottish Parliament, with 14,038 valid consultation responses submitted, 76% of which were fully supportive of the proposal and a further 2% partially supportive.

Assisted Dying Bills are also progressing in the Jersey and Isle of Man parliaments, with votes expected in all three jurisdictions next year.

Over 200 million people around the world have access to some form of assisted dying law. In Europe, assisted dying is legal in Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain. Every Australian state has now legalised assisted dying, after New South Wales’ parliament became the last to vote for assisted dying in May, with Bills progressing to extend assisted dying laws to the territories. Similar laws are in place across New Zealand and in 11 jurisdictions in the US, with broader laws in place in countries across Europe, North and South America.

Dignity in Dying campaigns for a change in the law to allow assisted dying as a choice for terminally ill, mentally competent adults alongside high quality end-of-life care and subject to strict safeguards – a change supported by 84% of the public.

Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said:

“France could soon join a growing international trend towards giving citizens true choice at the end of life. President Macron’s comments demonstrate that he is in touch with the vast majority of French public on this issue, who, like Brits, want to see a safe, compassionate assisted dying law for their country, and Westminster must catch up.

“The momentum for change is now impossible to ignore. Over 200 million people around the world have access to some form of legislation and parliamentarians in Scotland, Jersey and the Isle of Man are taking heed of the huge public support for reform. The evidence of the harm and injustice caused by the blanket ban on assisted dying is mounting. It is time for Westminster to grasp this nettle.

“We urgently need an inquiry to understand the failings of the current law, government time to develop and debate proposals for reform, and a guarantee of free vote for MPs.”

*ENDS*

For further information please contact Molly Pike, Media and Campaigns Officer at Dignity in Dying on 07929 731181 or email: molly.pike@dignityindying.org.uk