France to begin national conversation on assisted suicide laws

France will begin a national conversation this week on whether laws about end of life — assisted suicide — should be changed.

The consultative process involves 150 French people, drawn by lot, who will debate the issue in meetings between now and March, and report their conclusions to the government.

The aim is to consider whether or not to change the existing law, known as Claeys-Leonetti, which bans euthanasia and assisted suicide. This law — adopted in 2016 after a first version in 2005 — allows a “deep and continuous sedation until death” for incurable patients with a “short term” vital prognosis and unbearable suffering.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the citizens’ convention at the beginning of the year, after an opinion from the National Consultative Ethics Committee (CCNE).

The CCNE had, for the first time, considered that “active assistance in dying” could be envisaged, subject to “strict conditions”.