Legislation, anticipation, euthanasia… what does the end-of-life study say in France?

This study carried out by Ifop for the general mutual fund for National Education (MGEN) was carried out via a self-administered online questionnaire from May 13 to June 13, 2022 with a sample of 2,026 people, representative of the French population aged 18 and over, and a sample of 2,122 MGEN members.

The question of the end of life, a priority

According to the results of this survey, the end of life represents a major issue for 6 out of 10 French people and for more than 75% of MGEN respondents.

This denotes a real dissatisfaction with current care and demonstrates that the end of life is a priority issue. Otherwise, “78% of French people and 87% of MGEN members want the President of the Republic to organize a citizens’ conference during his new five-year term.

A question that unites

The issue of active assistance in dying is an eminently political subject, but one that brings people together. In effect, “92% of French people and even more members (97%) are in favor of active assistance in dying in the event of a serious and incurable illness. (+ 3 points since 1987): whatever their age, their socio-professional category, their place of residence, their political affiliation or their religious beliefs, the vast majority of French people are waiting for the evolution of the law” report the findings of the study.

The issue of palliative care is also raised and “52% of French people and 65% of members consider that access to palliative care is not satisfactory, it is more than 5 points since 2016″.

Patient choice comes first

Finally, when we talk about the end of life and the conditions of access to active assistance in dying, the French believe that the choice must be made by the patient. For example, they are “64% of French people and only 47% of members “wish that” all existing treatments had been explored without being able to cure the patient of his disease“.

For Dr Claire Fourcade, President of the French Society for Support and Palliative Care, “This is a large-scale study, with a rich vision, which shows that the end of life is one of the concerns of the French“.

Knowledge to acquire on the subject

If the question is important for the French population, the shortcomings and the ignorance of the rights of people at the end of life are important. This survey shows that with regard to end-of-life procedures, only “14% of French people have written advance directives, the proportion is higher among MGEN members (21%)”.

Important elements that can help to better accept the situation. “For example, families and relatives of patients do not know that we can stop treatment but continue to relieve pain and give patients a sedative, for example” adds Dr. Fourcade. “When the family knows these kinds of things, they can more easily accept what happens next.” concludes the specialist.