Moroccan Lawmakers Clash Over Controversial ’Gentle Death’ Bill for Coma Patients

The other deputies do not seem to share the enthusiasm of their PAM colleagues on this "gentle death" bill proposal. Faced with the controversy, the head of the party’s group, Mohamed Aboudrar, has given up on submitting it to the Chamber’s office for consideration by the competent committee, reports Le360.

Based on the principle that "every citizen has the right to access medical care", PAM proposes that if the probabilities of the patient’s coma awakening and recovery of cognitive abilities are estimated at less than 10%, the authorization of a close relative of the patient will be required to disconnect the devices that keep him in an artificial coma.

In case of refusal of this decision by the patient’s family, the text proposes that the hospital request a second opinion from two sworn doctors by a competent court. If the initial diagnosis is confirmed, the disconnection of the devices will take place ten days after the legal notification of the relatives.

The absence of a law on euthanasia, indicates the PAM parliamentary group, is moreover very dangerous, particularly when it comes to disconnecting the devices that keep the patient in an artificial coma, adds the same source.