“The end of life? Nobody likes to think about it. If it was today, who would know your opinion? “. That’s a good question to ask, and the message of the new awareness campaign on the end that begins today. The law of February 2, 2016 on the end of life strengthened existing rights and created new ones for a “dignified, supported and peaceful end of life, and better management of suffering”.
Concretely, a person at the end of life can refuse treatment, request relief from suffering or deep and continuous sedation. This means that powerful pain relievers can be administered for the comfort of the patient, although these treatments can shorten life a little. This is not, however, euthanasia.
Talk about it before
But end-of-life rights start much earlier, with the possibility of drafting advance directives and appointing a trusted person. The directives allow you to express your wishes in advance if a difficult end-of-life situation prevents the person from expressing them at the desired time. It is the same with the role of the person of confidence, to whom the medical team will refer in the event of incapacity of communication or expression of the patient himself.
Now the government has to make these measures known, ignored by 9 out of 10 French people. In December, a campaign aimed at professionals began. From today, awareness is spreading to the general public. TV spots, press ads, internet banners and events are part of the system. An information site is also available: parlons-fin-de-vie.fr.
To read also
The French do not know much about end-of-life devices
The end of life at home increases the length of life
End of life: few French people die at home
