It seems (to me) a somewhat strange thing to concentrate on when your quinquennat is going so badly.
Though perhaps there’s logic in it: make us work longer and then encourage us to check out early.
Do you feel strongly enough about euthanasie that you’d participate in the discussion?
Here’s an interesting comparison: How does France's proposed new euthanasia law compare to others in Europe? - The Local
Macron’s quite capable of concentrating on more than one thing at a time, also to date he’s not said whether he’s for or against assisted dying, instead he’s very sensibly used a people’s council to initiate the debate and I think the outcome will be far more popular than pension reform.
A Dutch friend’s mother recently organised her own moment of departure and I’d love to have that option too.
It’s an interesting question. Having seen a number of people die of old age over an extended period (obvious observation not required) my views have somewhat softened towards assisted dying.
Would I participate in the discussion - no, because it will be ugly, and no-one of consequence is going to actually listen to me.
As I understand it… there has already been the debate/discussion (call it what you will) by members of the Public (Convention Citoyenne). It is their Report/Suggestion (call it what you will) which is now being looked at by the Government.
Sorry, I expressed myself badly. I was wondering whether you felt strongly enough to participate in a consultation.
I did see this, however: L’Ordre des médecins défavorable à la participation des médecins à l’euthanasie
… which makes it kind of difficult to put into practice (at least in a way that involves doctors), I think.
I do like the idea of being surrounded by family or friends as you die.
As long as they aren’t the ones pushing the button.
So would I. I can’t imagine anything more important in one sense than being able to say ‘enough’ when the moment arrives. I think too many of us have seen people we love suffer physically and emotionally because they’re denied the option.
I’d be delighted for mine to push the button if I couldn’t and they felt ok with it (and I think they would as we have discussed it). Cruel to deny someone a needleful of mercy.
It is, but a valid concern for others is that there may be families where the ‘concern’ is more about urgency in getting hold of an inheritance and/or ending care expenses.
The answer may be an iron clad living will system. Something not presently recognised in France.
It surely should not be beyond the capabilities of man to devise a scheme whereby those who wish to be relieved of their bodies which are causing them much pain and indignity are not stopped by those who greedily wish to benefit from the death of a family member.
I find it appalling that a disabled person may have to take their own life much sooner than necessary in order to prevent any person who might help them by administering a lethal dose from being charged with aiding and abetting a suicide.
Those with sufficient money can go to Dignitas, but I would, if necessary, much prefer to go looking out on the beautiful view from my bedroom window.
Our elderly dog went whilst being held and stroked by both of us.
Jane, I agree with you. I suggest that anyone truly interested watch the moving (and difficult) film “Simon’s Choice” on tv a few years back. He eventually went to Lifercircle in Switzerland with all his family and was relieved of his misery (motor neuron )by Dr Erika Preisig, a formidable and compassionate doctor who is the Lifecircle president. He was 57. I have been a member for several years. The criteria are strong, several doctors involved and the patient must be capable of releasing the initial tranquiliser themselves. They provide an “ironclad” living will to be filled in which is on a card and can be read by your doctor, or anyone elsewho has a computer! Alas, it is switzerland, and all in all the costs are about 10,000e. There is no question that anyone can be put under pressure to do this, too many safeguards. If we could get the religious aspect out of the way, maybe france and the uk would class up.
That’s the how.
Perhaps we should now get ready for this
I thought there would have been a flurry of posts on this topic, because I’m sure we all think about how it might bear on us as individuals, yet there’s been comparatively little discussion.
Because it’s a hot potato.
You said, it not me! 
I read somewhere today that ~70% of the population in France is in favour of what is termed ‘Macron’s assisted dying bill’. Fair enough. Would surely be less distressing than the shotgun solution. Would also be better to not need to travel to a strange place.
There are strong objections in UK but that is not my home.
I agree.
It seems to me that approaching any moral decision in a post-Christian culture means balancing a lot of what we used to believe - by reference to an absolute standard - against a new freedom where we have nothing to guide us but our feelings of what is right and wrong.
And to make it even more difficult, we may be suspicious that our feelings of right and wrong come from the principles of a faith we reject.
I don’t think there is any ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. Euthanasia is in practice entirely personal.
The choice should be respected in law to protect all.
I think I can understand your framing it within the context of Christianity/ ‘post Christianity’ but that’s an unnecessarily limiting Occidental perspective - after all, most of Christianity’s moral code is derived from Judaism, which also proscribes suicide.
I’m a proud lapsed Catholic of over sixty years standing,who normally has no time for US pastors’ interpretation of the OT, but you might find this argument interesting…
A cogent voice of reason