France's euthanasia law is disturbing.

Dr. Mark Komrad

The following comments were provided by Dr. Mark Komrad, M.D., DFAPA, ACP, Faculty of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland, Tulane, and LSU

You may have heard that France’s National Assembly overrode their Senate’s objection to a proposed euthanasia law, and legalized it. A review by the French constitutional court has since upheld it, with a some of important clarifications, a couple of which are disturbing:

1. Like Canada and Benelux countries, the law allows both US style assisted suicide (oral prescription) AND euthanasia (IV lethal injection by doctor). [In all jurisdictions that permit both, typical 99%+ of patients choose euthanasia, to outsource the suicide to the physician].
2. Pharmacists retain the right to conscientious objection, and can refuse to dispense lethal meds, even when ordered.
3. Although religious institutions (Hospice’s, nursing homes) can refuse to provide the killing services, that is only if there is a nearby facility willing to provide the euthanasia. If not, then the right of religious-based objection is overridden, and the religious facility then MUST provide euthanasia to qualified patients! This resembles what we’re seeing in Canada, where some religious institutions’ conscientious objections have been overwritten on this issue.
4. Patients who lack capacity due to dementia, low IQ, etc. and have legal guardians, can be euthanized by doctors’ decision. Though the physician, who must consult the legal guardian those guardians DO NOT HAVE VETO POWER over the doctor’s decision, which is final. This is actually one of the most severe developments in the international spread of euthanasia laws.*

We are horrified by the implementation of this law in France and are gravely concerned with the countless French citizens who are now at risk of deadly harm, particularly people with disabilities.