[News Terms] France Moves to Legalize 'Assisted Death'

Canada Allows Drug Addicts and Minors to Choose
Macron: "They Can Request Help to Die"

'Assisted dying' refers to a form of death in which a patient with decision-making capacity, suffering from an incurable disease, ends their life with the help (prescription) of a doctor.

Because it involves the help of a doctor, it is also called 'Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD),' and since the patient chooses death themselves with the doctor's assistance, it is also referred to as 'assisted suicide.'

The photo is unrelated to the article content. [Photo by Yonhap News]

Assisted dying is one method of euthanasia. Euthanasia is broadly divided into passive euthanasia, active euthanasia, and assisted dying. Passive euthanasia involves ending life by stopping life-sustaining treatments such as nutrition supply for unconscious patients. In contrast, active euthanasia involves a doctor directly injecting a lethal drug to cause death.

The terms 'assisted dying' and 'assisted suicide' are sometimes distinguished based on whether the doctor administers the drug or the patient self-administers it. Since the general purpose of doctors and patients is to protect life, this issue is highly controversial. Assisted dying has already been legalized in some countries.

Switzerland has codified assisted dying in its criminal law since 1942, and several assisted dying support organizations, such as Dignitas, assist those seeking assisted dying from countries where it is not legalized.

Canada legalized assisted dying in 2016 and has gradually expanded the eligibility. Since March last year, patients suffering from depression and other conditions can choose assisted dying; from April, minors with decision-making capacity; and from August, even drug addicts can opt for assisted dying, making Canada’s barriers to choosing assisted dying lower than any other country. Additionally, assisted dying is legalized in the Netherlands, New Zealand, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, 12 states in the United States, and some states in Australia.

In Canada, death is induced by sequentially administering four drugs: midazolam, lidocaine, propofol, and rocuronium.

French President Emmanuel Macron.
Photo by EPA Paris/ Yonhap News

AFP reported on the 10th (local time) that French President Emmanuel Macron stated in interviews with French daily newspapers La Croix and Lib?ration that he plans to submit a bill legalizing assisted dying to the parliament in May.

The bill proposed by President Macron would allow assisted dying in a limited way for adults capable of making their own decisions. President Macron said that adults who can fully control their judgment and suffer from a fatal disease that is incurable in the short or medium term and whose pain cannot be alleviated "can request help to die."

AFP predicted that the push to legalize assisted dying is likely to face strong domestic opposition, so even if the bill is submitted in May, it is unlikely to pass before next year. According to local opinion polls, while the majority of French citizens support the legalization of the 'right to die,' opposition from the Catholic Church and others remains strong, AFP reported.