Monaco is preparing to reform its legislation on end-of-life care, a sensitive issue that has sparked considerable debate across Europe. The National Council, now responsible for reviewing the bill submitted by the government last September, will begin a series of consultations with key figures from the medical, charitable, and religious sectors to help inform its decision.

Submitted on September 26 2023, Bill No. 1.081 aims to improve access to palliative care for individuals suffering from severe, progressive illnesses. It also sets out regulations for volunteer organisations that provide support to patients at the end of their lives and prohibits excessive medical intervention by requiring that any treatment deemed unreasonable be subject to the patient’s informed consent. A particularly significant aspect of this reform is the introduction of an end-of-life declaration, allowing those with an incurable condition to express their wishes regarding their care with the assistance of a doctor.

Now in the hands of the National Council, the bill will undergo thorough analysis. In order to approach the issue as comprehensively as possible, the president of the Commission for Social Interests and Miscellaneous Affairs, Franck Lobono, has announced a series of meetings with end-of-life care organisations as well as with teams from the palliative care department at the Princess Grace Hospital Centre, whose expertise will provide valuable insight. The Diocese of Monaco will also be consulted to consider the ethical and spiritual implications of the reform.

In an effort to examine the issue from all perspectives, the National Council also plans to hold discussions with Jean Leonetti, the Mayor of Antibes and the author of two major laws on end-of-life care in France, to benefit from his legislative experience.

This initiative marks a crucial step in Monaco’s approach to end-of-life care, an issue that extends beyond borders and challenges both lawmakers and society as a whole. As several European countries are currently reviewing their policies on the care of terminally ill patients, the Principality is embarking on its own debate, where ethics, medicine, and human dignity all come into play.