DISINFO: French state intensifies the legalisation of euthanasia under the pretext of health crisis
SUMMARY
The decree n°2020-1262 of October 16, 2020, authorises the killing of people considered as unable to survive SARS-CoV-2 by the use of Rivotril.
In the decree n°2020-1262 of October 16, 2020, we read that even people who are not sick but “likely to be affected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus” will have to be euthanised: “Notwithstanding article L 5121-12-1 of the Public Health Code, the pharmaceutical speciality Rivotril ® in injectable form can be dispensed by dispensing pharmacies with a view to the care of patients suffering from or likely to” be affected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the clinical condition which justifies Rivotril upon presentation of a medical prescription bearing the words “Prescription Outside Marketing Authorisation in the context of COVID-19”.
RESPONSE
This is part of a false narrative claiming Rivotril is prescribed by the French Government to euthanize French people. As during the first confinement, a decree allows medical doctors to prescribe Rivotril, a powerful sedative used in palliative care, to replace Midazolam.
As stated by the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, before the National Assembly on November 4th:
I understood the wrong judgment that had been made by people honestly ill-intentioned or very ill-informed, who said when this decree was signed that it was a desire to precipitate euthanasia to avoid having people transfered to intensive care. I say it as I said earlier. It is truly shameful! This is one of the things that make it difficult to keep your calm in all circumstances because we are addressing health professionals who dedicate their lives to fragile people and who accompany them until their last breath. This is for families of people who receive this type of treatment. It is not in France that we find this kind of process. I have never ceased to denounce those who wanted to exploit human suffering for sometimes political or nuisance ends.
As explains Check News the exceptional use of Rivotril intends to prevent a shortage of Midazolam used in palliative care and has no link to euthanasia.