Macron promulgates euthanasia law published Wednesday in France's Official Journal
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French President Emmanuel Macron promulgated a law creating a right to euthanasia, and the text was published Wednesday, August 19, in the Official Journal. The law allows adult patients with serious, incurable conditions to self-administer a lethal substance under medical supervision. The Constitutional Council cleared the measure last week with reservations, while religious groups and some health workers opposed it.
Key Facts
- The Constitutional Council ruled Friday that no provision of the law violates the Constitution.
- Eligible patients must be adults, French citizens or permanent residents, and suffer from a serious and incurable terminal or progressive disease with unbearable physical suffering.
- Five appeals were filed with the Constitutional Council, including one from Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu.
- The Jerome Lejeune Foundation and the association Les Éligibles et leurs aidants condemned the law as an absolute danger to the most vulnerable people.
The New Law
The text was published Wednesday, August 19, in the Official Journal after President Emmanuel Macron promulgated it. The law creates a right to euthanasia for certain patients under defined conditions. A patient may self-administer a lethal substance in the presence of a medical professional, who may administer it only if the patient is physically unable to do so. Eligible individuals must be adults, French citizens or permanent residents, and suffer from a serious and incurable terminal or progressive disease with unbearable physical suffering. Access to the procedure is determined by a single doctor but requires input from other specialists.
Legal Challenges and Reactions
The Constitutional Council ruled Friday that no provision of the law violates the Constitution. Five appeals were filed with the Constitutional Council, a significant number; one came from Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu. President Macron welcomed the ruling as the culmination of an exemplary democratic debate. The Jerome Lejeune Foundation expressed outrage, and the association Les Éligibles et leurs aidants condemned the law as an absolute danger to the most vulnerable people. The law reignited public divisions, drawing broad opposition from religious groups and some medical workers.
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Macron promulgates euthanasia law published Wednesday in France's Official Journal
