Health Minister Catherine Vautrin attempted on Wednesday to reassure healthcare professionals, who were worried and angry after the proposed laws on palliative care and end-of-life care, which were adopted at first reading in late May by the National Assembly.
The Minister of Labor, Health and Solidarity, invited to Lille to the national congress of the French Society for Palliative Care (SFAP), which brings together some 6,000 caregivers, nurses and doctors, emphasized "the importance of the fight for palliative care" while justifying "assisted dying."
"I wanted to come and meet you this morning because I know that if the devil had a face, perhaps it would be mine," Ms. Vautrin said from the podium.
She recalled the broad outlines of the plan voted for palliative care and the funds allocated, "one billion euros over ten years" with 100 million euros earmarked for 2025.
By 2026, she promised to "work to ensure that these funds are enshrined," that "all departments are provided with funding" and that staff are trained.
On assisted dying, Ms Vautrin insisted on the "conscience clause": "none of you will be obliged to provide assisted dying; it is an absolutely essential issue."
Regarding the "offense of incitement" to assisted dying, rejected by the deputies, and the "offense of obstruction," retained in the proposed law, discussions are continuing, assured Ms. Vautrin, admitting that the absence of the offense of incitement is "indeed an element of imbalance."
Regarding palliative care, "we have no feedback on the use of these resources," lamented Claire Fourcade, president of the Sfap, after the minister's intervention.
And the text on assisted dying "is the source of a lot of uncertainty and concern" in the sector, Ms. Fourcade recalled. "This change in the collective message will be of immense importance," she said.
Only one in two people at the end of their life have access to palliative care in France, due to a lack of reception facilities, staff and resources.
The bill adopted unanimously on May 27th at first reading in the National Assembly, alongside the bill creating a right to assisted dying, should improve this care, in particular by creating an enforceable right: in other words, a person who does not have access to palliative care within a certain timeframe could take administrative action to obtain it.
The two texts on the end of life must be examined in first reading in the Senate in the autumn.
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