End of life: MPs vote on the offence of obstructing access to assisted dying, review of the text completed

On Saturday, MPs completed their first reading of the bill on the "right to assisted dying," which they will formally vote on on Tuesday, after voting on a text devoted to palliative care.

The National Assembly began examining these two bills on May 12. During generally calm debates, MPs approved the creation of a "right to assisted dying," which will be open to people suffering from "a serious and incurable condition" that is "life-threatening, in an advanced stage" or "terminal," and who are experiencing "constant physical or psychological suffering."

On Saturday, MPs also approved the creation of an offence of obstructing access to assisted dying, along the same lines as for the right to abortion. This offence is aimed at "preventing or attempting to prevent" "performing or obtaining information" on this subject, while also increasing the penalty, as part of the review of the law on the end of life .

This offence will be committed in the event of disruption of "access" to places where assisted dying is carried out, "by exerting moral or psychological pressure", "by making threats or engaging in any act of intimidation" towards patients or healthcare professionals.

The MPs also increased the penalty, bringing it to two years in prison and a fine of 30,000 euros, to align it with that for abortion.

The article - adopted by 84 votes to 49 - sparked heated debate. "How far will this offence of obstruction go in interpretation?" worried MP Thibault Bazin (LR). "How should we understand suicide prevention, or even failure to assist a person in danger, in the future?"

Other parliamentarians raised the case of relatives who might try to dissuade a parent. "This obstruction offense, as it is written, can create arbitrariness," added Patrick Hetzel (LR).

Health Minister Catherine Vautrin sought to reassure MPs. "What we are led to say (...) in a circle of friends and family is obviously a personal approach that does not constitute an obstruction offense," she insisted, repeatedly citing a decision by the Constitutional Council.

"Proposing palliative care, alternatives or other perspectives, expressing doubts, opening a dialogue or even delaying a decision deemed premature (...) cannot be considered pressure," she added.

MPs tried in vain to introduce a "crime of incitement" to assisted dying, in a bid to "rebalance" the law. "The current arsenal of repressive measures already fully covers the risk of pressure and manipulation," added Catherine Vautrin, citing abuse of weakness in particular.

The debates are expected to conclude on Saturday, with several dozen amendments still under discussion. A formal vote on the entire text is scheduled for Tuesday.