Assisted dying: MPs vote to strengthen the collegiate procedure

The initial version of Olivier Falorni's (MoDem Group) bill provided that the doctor, after having verified that the person meets the eligibility criteria for the right to assisted death, must obtain the "written opinion" of a doctor specializing in the pathology and a medical assistant or caregiver involved in the patient's treatment.

But the deputies considered, by a large majority (112 against 61) that the procedure should be more collegial, by voting for an amendment by Horizons deputy and former Minister of Health Frédéric Valletoux, supported by the government and Mr. Falorni.

From now on, written opinions are replaced by a meeting of a college, composed at least of the doctor in charge of the request, a specialist and a caregiver involved in the treatment of the person.

This college must meet in person, and if this is not possible, remotely. And it may, at its discretion, seek the opinions of other people, such as other health professionals, for example (this was already the case in the initial version). It is only after this collegial procedure that the doctor makes his or her decision.

During the debates, MPs insisted on collegiality as "a central point" and "a point of balance" of the text, according to Yannick Monnet (GDR).

But for the fiercest opponents, this change is only "cosmetic," as denounced by LR MP Philippe Juvin.

They attempted, without success, to add a number of "safeguards," as they put it. For example, the decision should not be made by the doctor, but by the board; the meeting should not be held remotely, even if the doctor is unable to attend; or the specialist should have examined the patient. The text provides that the specialist has access to "the person's medical file" and examines it, "unless he or she deems it unnecessary."

"You are setting such conditions that you will have very little chance of having collegiality" in the end, Mr. Monnet retorted.

To confirm these votes, the article as a whole must still be adopted.

The vote on the entire text, in first reading, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27. Some 900 amendments remain to be studied.