PRESS RELEASE – 22nd January 2026
Stop obstinacy for euthanasia, make palliative care a priority
Seeing the absence of political consensus, Alliance VITA is calling on the government to suspend the debate on euthanasia and assisted suicide and to prioritise care.
Yesterday, during the public session, the Senators began by deleting article 4 of the proposed bill, which established the conditions for eligibility of access to “medical assistance in dying”, before deleting from article 2 the possibility of assisted suicide and euthanasia and to substitute a “right for the best possible relief of pain and suffering”.
This parliamentary sequence revealed the clear absence of consensus for the legalisation of assisted suicide and euthanasia. Conversely, palliative care — for which the debate was relegated until after the one on “assistance in dying”, in a worrying reversal of priorities — was rewarded with widespread agreement.
The government and MPs, who are endlessly claiming to seek compromise and consensus, would be well advised to concentrate their efforts where there is unanimous support: guaranteeing effective access to palliative care throughout the country. Such access is still a long way off, despite of the ten-year plan presented in April 2024.
According to Tugdual Derville, Alliance VITA’s spokesman:
“The urgency is quite clear: Vote for a proper programming law on palliative care, the only way of guaranteeing the human and budgetary means necessary to meet the stated commitments. In the absence of equitable access to palliative care, in an already highly degraded sanitary context, there is a strong risk to see the French public turning to administered death due to a lack of appropriate care”.
Survey upon survey, the French public have expressed their prime expectations from a repaired health system. The prevalent obstinacy for the desire to legalise assisted suicide and euthanasia has often been justified by the argument of a claimed majority of public opinion and social consensus. Recent surveys, as well as the parliamentary debates themselves, have shown that today such a consensus does not exist.
The senators, MPs and the government must now face the consequences and suspend the debate on any form of “assistance in dying” and address the highest priority: access to palliative care for all.
The French public need care, not euthanasia.
Now is the time to write to the senators.
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