[New end of life's approach: law of April 22, 2005 and decrees of February 6, 2006].
Further to a national debate, extremely mediatized, the law of April 22, 2005 relating to the rights of the patients and the end of life, was adopted. This law brings new rights to the patients and clarifies the medical practice concerning situations of end of life. Physicians have to refrain from any unreasonable stubbornness in investigations or therapeutics and they can give up beginning or pursue treatments which seem useless, disproportionate or which have the other object or effect than the artificial preservation of the life. Pain's relief is a right of the patient. Physicians can, with the aim of relieving the suffering of a end of life's person, give a treatment being able to have the effect secondary to abbreviate life. The patient can draft early directives. Decision of limitation or stop a treatment concerning a person who can't express its will, has to take into account the wishes, which the patient would have before expressed through early directives and\or by consulting the person of trust, as well as the family. Stop or limitation of a treatment concerning a person incapable to express its will can not be realized without respecting a collective procedure.
Gignon
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Consultation de médecine légale, CHU nord d'Amiens, place Victor-Pauchet, 80054 Amiens cedex 01, France.
Manaouil
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C
Jardé
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O
D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D018447:Medical Futility; D028701:Patient Rights; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*