Remember: we were telling you about it in September 2015. Jacques Mercier, an 87-year-old man, was being prosecuted by the French courts for “non-assistance to a person in danger”. The facts dated back to November 2011: the octogenarian then helped his wife, Josiane (83) to end her life.
This one suffered from severe depression for more than 30 years and violent pains related toosteoarthritis : she had already done several suicide attempts. Jacques and Josiane were both members of the Association for the Right to Die with Dignity (ADMD). The man had provided him with the medicines necessary for his death, as he had promised 15 years earlier: a few hours later, he had called the doctor and told him everything – “Basically, I had nothing to hide, I know she left in peace ”.
“A small stone that can get things done”
In September 2015, Jacques Mercier was sentenced at first instance to a “principle sentence”: 1 year suspended sentence. But this Thursday, November 10, 2016 (5 years, to the day, after the facts), the Court of Appeal of Lyon pronounced the release.
Happiness for Jacques Mercier, who was unable to attend his own trial because of his Parkinson disease : “I am overjoyed”, he declared at the end of the hearing. In his eyes, this decision is “a small stone that can move things forward.” Same joy for his lawyer, Me Mickaël Boulay, who defended his client for “five long years”. For him, “it is the culmination of a long process. I am so happy “.
On Twitter, the ADMD association also congratulated itself: “RELAX! Jean Mercier is released, justice has recognized his gesture of love. The law on the end of life must now change ”. Its president, Jean-Luc Romero-Michel, adds: “Happy for Jean. Justice takes its responsibilities. And the elected officials? “.
A case which raises, once again, the question of the end of life … assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal in four European countries: Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
