Euthanasia: A media offensive disconnected from the true priorities of the French public
In the context of the current political turmoil, the proponents of the legalisation of euthanasia are waging a media offensive which is opposite to the priorities of the French people.
The resignation of François Bayrou followed by the appointment of Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister has resulted in a period of political uncertainty which could disrupt the legislative calendar. The proposed bills on the end of life adopted at first reading by the National Assembly on 27thMay are due in principle to be discussed in the Senate from 7th October. Their examination by the social affairs commission is even scheduled to begin on 24th September.
Pressure to maintain the legislative calendar
Pending the formation of a new government, those in favour of assisted dying are speaking out, repeating their well-oiled routine over the last year since the interruption of the legislative process as a result of the dissolution of the National Assembly in June 2024. Thus the president of ADMD (association for the right to die with dignity) for who “It is a new disillusion” is voicing all his arguments: for patients who are so-called victims “hostage to political strategies meaning that subjects have been under discussion for 40 years, and still we never reach a vote”, and the claim that France has fallen behind its European neighbours (it should be noted that a mere 7 of the 27 states in the European Union have authorised euthanasia or assisted suicide) as well as a hint about people travelling to Belgium “Because our palliative care is inadequate in terms of quantity and quality”. The President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet who is well-known to be committed on the subject, on her part, has declared that she intends that the planned calendar should be upheld. She also stated that she has asked the Prime Minister and the President of the Senate not to modify the calendar, adding that she could not accept a third postponement. The MP for Charente-Maritime and general reporter for the proposed bill concerning the right to assisted dying, Olivier Falorni, followed suit, warning that “It would be inadmissible to suffer another postponement. It would be scandalous and nothing could justify it today.”
Offensive on the legal and literary fronts
Apart from these reactions opposing a possible postponement of the legislative calendar, the offensive in favour of euthanasia is being waged through justice as well as in bookshops.
A trial of 12 militants began on 15th September, 11 belonging to the “Ultime liberté” (ultimate freedom) association and one from “Le Choix” (The choice), being prosecuted for “complicity to import illicit substances, plants, preparations or medicines”, “illicit possession of substances”, “complicity for the illicit acquisition of substances”, “complicity for the contraband importation of substances harmful to public health.” The defendants intend to use the trial as a platform in the context of the debate on the end-of-life. In relation to the position upheld by Ultime Liberté who defend “the right to assisted suicide for all, even without an incurable disease”, Olivier Falorni is pleading for the so-called “controls” in his proposed bill. According to him, such clandestine practices are further justification for the legalisation of euthanasia. In Belgium, the legalisation of euthanasia has not however eradicated clandestine euthanasia: scientific studies have estimated that around 25 to 35% of euthanasia are undeclared there.
The publication, on 10th September 2025, of a book presented as a witness account of a resuscitation doctor but in fact more like a pro-euthanasia plea is contributing to the all-out sequence of media promotion for lifting the prohibition against killing. Dr Denis Peillon even claims that the proposed bill on assisted dying does not go far enough. Which provides encouragement to all those praising the equilibrium and strict controls in the text presented by Olivier Falorni as well as to those who fear the next stages for broadening administered death.
The urgency for the French public is to improve the health system
Despite the absence of government and the current political uncertainty, the supporters of euthanasia claim that nothing justifies modifying the legislative calendar. In so doing they ignore the social and budgetary emergencies which the next government will have to confront. In any case, the French people fully understand, since according to a Toluna Harris Interactive survey conducted following the appointment of Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister, the French people identified three priority subjects for the new government: buying power, the social system (health, pensions etc.) and security. End-of-life comes way down in 15th position: only 8% of those questioned considered it to be a priority. Survey after survey, the French public have confirmed their concern about the state of the health system whose malfunctions they are confronting on a daily basis. In November 2024 the campaign by Alliance VITA “I need care, not euthanasia“, collected thousands of witness accounts illustrating the increasing difficulty in gaining access to care and the resulting worry. Some people are giving up seeking treatment, others have to wait a whole month for an appointment. Such malfunctions are feeding a feeling of being abandoned and are undermining national cohesion. Meeting the sanitary emergency, also involves repairing social links. In that context, creating a counter for assisted suicide and euthanasia is not only unreasonable but also and especially unfair.
The senators are being called upon to make a choice of society. Either ratifying a law to introduce a right to die, weakening the most vulnerable, or to assume the political responsibility for responding to the expectations of the French people: “The need for care, not euthanasia”. They would be well advised to go along with the State Council who in a study in 2018 considered that “Access to high quality palliative care […] is a necessary prerequisite to any accomplished ethical thinking on the question of the end-of-life.” Rejecting euthanasia, is not to ignore suffering, but represents a commitment to respond to it with dignity through humane and medical means and solidarity.
Suivez-nous sur les réseaux sociaux :
