When the request for euthanasia or assistance to suicide is directly expressed by a patient who is conscious and able to express his or her will, the doctor who receives such a request must:
- inform the patient about his or her health condition and about his or her life expectancy; discuss with the patient about their request for euthanasia or assistance to suicide and mention to them the therapeutical treatments that could still be implemented as well as the opportunities of palliative care and their consequences;
- come to the firm conclusion that the patient’s request is voluntary and that in the patient’s view there is not any other acceptable solution for their situation;
- have several interviews with the patient at time intervals which are deemed reasonable given the evolution of the condition of the patient, to make sure that the physical or psychological pain of the patient persists and that their recently expressed will is unchanged, or has been reiterated;
- consult with another fellow doctor about the condition being serious and incurable while indicating the reasons for the consultancy;
- unless the patient objects, discuss about the request of the latter with the healthcare team who is in regular contact with the patient or its members;
- unless the patient objects, discuss about the request of the latter with the person of trust that he or she designated in his or her arrangements for the end of life or at the time of his or her request for euthanasia or assistance to suicide;
- make sure that the patient had the opportunity to discuss about his or her request with the persons he or she wanted to meet;
- enquire by the Commission if arrangements for the end of life have been registered in the name of the patient.
The patient may of course at any moment change their mind and cancel their request.
If the doctor implements euthanasia, he or she must submit, within eight days a record to La Commission Nationale de Controle et d’Evaluation, which verifies if the requirements and the procedure have been fulfilled as provided by the law.