"There are things worse than death": first day of debates on the end of life in the National Assembly

The issue of end of life, including the creation of a "right to assisted dying" , returned to the National Assembly chamber on Monday 12 May, with many MPs expressing the wish for dignified and calm debates, allowing for a balanced text on a sensitive subject.

The President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet , promised, when opening the debates, to ensure that they remained "as respectful as possible".

MPs will debate two bills for two weeks, including weekends if necessary, one on palliative care and the other on assisted dying. A formal vote on each is scheduled for May 27.

"Yes, there is something even worse than death, when life has become nothing but inexorable agony," declared Olivier Falorni, rapporteur of the second text (MoDem group), defending the need for assisted dying as a "last resort."

Foreshadowing poignant debates, some MPs shared their personal experiences. "Like many of you, I have experienced irreversible degradation in my own family, life support without consent, in pain," said Rebellious MP Karen Erodi from the podium.

The first bill, which was consensual, notably provides for the creation of an "enforceable right" to palliative care, whereas according to a report by the Court of Auditors in July 2023, only half of the needs were met.

The second, more divisive, was approved by 28 MPs against 15 in committee. During the session, all groups should allow their members freedom of vote.

The elected officials will first have to consider more than 3,000 amendments, many of which come from the UDR, Éric Ciotti's group, an ally of the RN. While LFI denounced an attempt at "obstruction" by the far right, Yaël Braun-Pivet refuted the term, judging that the order of magnitude would be the same during the debates in 2024.

After committing in 2022 to entrusting a citizens' convention with consideration of the subject, Emmanuel Macron unveiled the broad outlines of a draft law in March 2024, the examination of which was however interrupted by the dissolution.

Under intense pressure from MPs, Prime Minister François Bayrou has gone back to the drawing board, splitting the bill in two, so as to give MPs the freedom to vote for one text but not the other.

Last Monday, Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his commitment to this societal change, stating that the debate could not be reduced to pro-life or anti-life, but rather asked the question of the "lesser evil."

The government is, however, divided on the issue, and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau (LR) is a fierce opponent.

Although it transcends political divisions, the creation of assisted dying, another name for assisted suicide and euthanasia, is opposed by a large part of the right and the far right.

"Can the state be involved in the death of a third party, even by simply authorizing a device? Personally, I don't believe so. The impossibility of causing death is an absolute principle," declared LR MP Philippe Juvin, a doctor by profession, expressing concern that the text "opens euthanasia to people who potentially have several years to live."

"This law will authorize recourse to the right to die without losing this exceptional character and without encouraging it," said Socialist MP Océane Godard.

In the House, Health Minister Catherine Vautrin called for the definition of "a clear framework with non-negotiable principles and clear lines" for assisted dying. "It is the honour of Parliament to tackle the most serious and upsetting issues and find a balance," she added.

The question of the criteria granting access to this new right will be particularly debated, as well as those of the "safeguards" governing the procedure, the collegiality of the authorization decision, or even the priority given or not to the self-administration of the lethal substance.

Olivier Falorni's text now provides that the patient must be "suffering from a serious and incurable condition, whatever the cause, which is life-threatening, in an advanced or terminal phase."

In an opinion issued Tuesday, the French National Health Authority defined the "advanced phase" as "the onset of an irreversible process marked by a worsening of health that affects quality of life." The government intends to adopt this definition in an amendment.