The Citizens’ Convention on the End of Life, made up of 184 citizens randomly selected to form a representative selection of French society, submitted its final report to President Emmanuel Macron yesterday.

The body was established in September 2022 to answer the question: “Is the framework of end-of-life accompaniment adapted to the different situations encountered or should possible changes be introduced?”

At present, French law bans euthanasia or assisted suicide, but “prolonged and continuous sedation” for terminal patients has been allowed since 2016.

After around 60 hearings, the convention concluded with an overwhelming 97 per cent majority that the existing law must “evolve”.

A smaller but still substantial 76 per cent of members of the convention supported access to euthanasia and assisted dying “under certain conditions and at the end of a marked path”, Le Monde reports.

The convention’s report is now being considered by President Macron, who will then announce his government’s position — though it is unlikely to become a priority for his government amid escalating protests over an increase in the retirement age.