Living wills and end-of-life wishes

French law allows for any adult to make a ‘living will’ in order to clarify their 'end-of-life' wishes should they find themselves seriously injured or terminally ill and unable to express themselves.

In the absence of such a document then your designated personne de confiance would be consulted (if you chose one) and then other close family or friends.

This document may concern such matters as limiting or stopping life sustaining treatments if you are in a vegetative state; whether or not you would want to be transferred to intensive care to try to keep you alive at all costs; whether to use artificial respiration or to undertake surgeries, or instead to have palliative care which may reduce suffering even if it has the effect of causing you do die sooner than otherwise.

Doctors will are legally required to respect your wishes unless they agree they are manifestly inappropriate to the medical situation or because a situation is so critically urgent that there is no time to consult them.

Anyone can make a living will, called directives anticipées, although authorisation is needed for a person who is sous tutelle, either from a judge or the conseil de famille – a group of relatives designated to make decisions for the person.

Creating a living will is simple but must meet certain requirements. It needs to include your full name, date and place of birth, and be dated and signed. 

If you are unable to write or sign the document, it can be validated in the presence of two witnesses.

An official template is available which also provides more information and guidance to fill it in.

There are two versions of the living will template: one for individuals in good health, and one for those already living with a serious illness. 

While the law does not specifically require the document to be written in French, it is strongly recommended, as French healthcare professionals may not be able to understand a version written in English, particularly in emergencies. 

What is more the laws say it is preferable to follow the template models if possible

Your GP can assist you in writing it, and it is advised to follow the official template format when possible.

Your living will may be lodged with your GP, with your personne de confiance or another family member or with your retirement home or the hospital if you are hospitalised. Let close family know about it and it is also recommended that if you have a mon espace santé (online medical records) that a copy be kept in that.

It can be changed or revoked at any time.

In the case of you being gravely ill the doctors must check to see if any living will can be found.