In a move that has ignited a fiery debate, French President Emmanuel Macron has come under heavy criticism for proposing a draft bill that allows for assisted dying for certain terminally-ill patients. Set to be debated in May, the bill has faced opposition from medical workers, political opponents, and the Catholic Church.

President Macron, addressing the concerns surrounding the bill, emphasized that it would include "strict conditions" for individuals to self-administer a lethal substance or seek assistance from a relative or medical professional if they are unable to do so themselves. The president argued that there are cases that cannot be humanly accepted, and described the proposed law as a "brotherly" regulation that confronts death head-on.

However, various health workers' groups expressed their "consternation, anger, and sadness" regarding the draft bill, declaring that it does not meet patients' needs and neglects the daily reality faced by healthcare professionals. These associations, including palliative care, cancer support, and specialist nurses, issued a joint statement asserting that an increased focus on palliative care, rather than assisted dying, would better fulfill patients' desires to "die with dignity."

Critics of President Macron also accused him of utilizing the debates on abortion and assisted dying as a diversion in the lead-up to the European Parliament elections on June 9. Laurent Jacobelli, spokesperson for the far-right National Rally (RN), who currently leads the polls, argued that the concerns of the French public lie with purchasing power, security, and immigration, rather than these contentious issues.

Despite the current French law permitting "deep and continuous sedation" for patients experiencing great suffering with a short life expectancy, President Macron has been eager to update these regulations since his presidential campaign. To deliberate on the matter, he convened an assembly of randomly-selected citizens, who subsequently made a non-binding decision in 2023, recommending the allowance of assisted dying under certain conditions.

As outlined in the draft law proposed by President Macron, assisted dying would be available to adults who are "fully capable of discernment," excluding psychiatric and Alzheimer's patients. Patients must have an "incurable" condition likely to be fatal within the "short or medium term," accompanied by suffering resistant to treatment. Within two weeks, a medical team would evaluate the request for assisted dying, and if approved, patients would receive a prescription for a lethal substance to self-administer. Additionally, those suffering from specific conditions, like motor neurone disease, would have the option to nominate someone to administer the lethal dose or seek assistance from a health professional.

In conjunction with the assisted-dying provision, President Macron pledged to allocate one billion euros ($1.1 billion) towards palliative care over ten years. He also promised to establish 21 new centers in underserved areas to ensure increased accessibility. The proposed law has been commended by the Association for the Right to Die in Dignity (ADMD), who appreciated the allocated timeline for parliamentary proceedings. However, the ADMD expressed objections to certain aspects of the provisions that exclude requests in advance from Alzheimer's sufferers.

Supporting the bill, Loic Resibois, an advocate for assisted dying and a motor neurone disease patient, voiced his hope that the law would grant individuals the ability to experience a calm and peaceful end. Resibois emphasized the importance of allowing individuals to avoid a state of existence where they are not yet deceased but not fully alive.

Conversely, France's Catholic bishops unreservedly rejected the proposed bill. Expressing his concerns, Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, the chief of the bishops' conference, asserted that such legislation would lead the health system toward death as a solution. He argued that genuine human compassion, care, and attention, rather than a lethal drug, are the factors that enable people to die in a fully humane manner.

The controversial draft bill has sparked intense discussions throughout France, as the nation grapples with ethical and moral considerations concerning assisted dying. The upcoming debates in the French parliament from May 27 will shed further light on the nation's stance on this deeply divisive issue.