The Leonetti Law of 22 April 2005 is a French law on patients’ rights and end of life. It was designed to regulate medical practice at the end of life, without legalizing euthanasia. Here are its main contributions:
Aims of the law
Combating therapeutic obstinacy: The law prohibits “unreasonable obstinacy,” that is, the pursuit of useless or disproportionate treatments that merely keep a person alive artificially.
Strengthening palliative care: It requires doctors to provide care aimed at relieving pain and preserving the patient’s dignity.
Respecting the patient’s wishes: Any person may refuse treatment or ask for it to be stopped, even if this may lead to death.
Key provisions
Pain-relief treatments: They may be administered even if they risk shortening life, provided that this is not the aim.
Advance directives: Any person may write down their wishes concerning the end of their life. These directives are valid for 3 years and must be taken into account by doctors.
Trusted person: The patient may appoint a trusted person whose opinion will be sought if the patient becomes unconscious.
Collegial procedure: When treatment is stopped for an unconscious patient, the decision must be made collectively by several doctors, in consultation with the family or the trusted person.
The Leonetti Law was supplemented in 2016 by the Claeys-Leonetti Law, which notably introduces deep and continuous sedation until death in certain cases.