Sitting at his office, Geoffrey Dubois puts his phone in balance in front of him. That morning, this Liège doctor has an appointment with a new patient on Zoom. Pen in hand, he briefly travels his file before starting: “French, 74, damage to Charcot’s disease …” A few seconds later, a woman with graying hair appears on the screen. “Hello Sir!”
Leaning on her sofa, Françoise* speaks from her salon to Royan (Charente-Maritime), more than 900 kilometers from the DEr Dubois, located in Liège, in eastern Belgium. Despite the distance, this mother knows: she has no choice but to turn to a neighboring country. So today, it is with a practitioner of the flat country that she has an appointment, for her request for euthanasia.
In the kingdom, euthanasia was partially decriminalized in 2002. At the time, Belgium was the second country in the world-after the Netherlands-to make this choice. But if the law was adopted more than two decades ago, there are sometimes many questions. So for two years, Geoffrey Dubois has been consulting consultations at the end of life at the Citadel Regional Hospital Center in Liège. Every other Thursday, he receives “Eight to nine patients”for forty-five minutes each. His goal: to listen to them, in order to understand their requests. “It is a space for reflection and exchangeunderlines the doctor. We try to define what are the wishes of the patient, his expectations, his fears. ” Among those who come to consultation, Belgians of course. But also a regular number of French.
That morning, Françoise has an appointment for a second medical opinion. According to Belgian law, any request for euthanasia must be subject to a second opinion made by an independent doctor. “I explain the principlebegins Geoffrey Dubois, purple blouse on his back. I know that you have already told your situation to my colleague, but you will have to start again. ”
On the other side of the screen, Françoise takes her breath and traces the story of recent years. It begins with the appearance of the first symptoms in 2023: “It was very pain in the left leg.” A few months later, the diagnosis fell: it has Charcot’s disease, a neurodegenerative disease. “It’s very hard, I live between my bed and my chair. I don’t do anything “says Françoise, the breathless voice. In recent times, the septuagenarian feels that “It got worse”. She finds it difficult to move, chew certain foods and can no longer write.
“It will be a last trip together”
Today, Françoise is certain: she wishes to use a euthanasia in Belgium. And his relatives are aware. Standing by his side, his son also attended the consultation. “How do you live things?”asks the doctor to him. “It’s complicatedhe admits. I accompany him, but I can see that the only solution is to end his sufferings. And I accept it. “ Throughout the consultation, Geoffrey Dubois listens, takes some notes and asks questions.
The Liège doctor reminds us: in Belgium, several conditions must be met to use a euthanasia. In particular, the patient must be suffering from a serious and incurable illness, that he will experience inapachable suffering and that he makes a conscious and repeated request. At the end of the meeting, the practitioner turns his gaze to Françoise. “You fall under the conditions of the lawhe explains to him. I will give a favorable opinion. ” Through the screen, the Royannaise seems relieved.
“I sometimes have proven euthanasia requests and sometimes patients who simply come to take information.”
Before hanging up, the Dr Dubois specifies some modalities. When Françoise “The wish”she can contact the first doctor she met. Euthanasia will then be done here in Liège. The septuagenarian immediately specifies it: she will come accompanied by her family. “It will be a last trip together”confirms his son. But behind his peaceful tone, he does not hide it: “It would have been much easier if it was possible in France.”
In recent months, the hexagonal country has experienced many debates on the issue. If euthanasia remains prohibited, an important step was taken at the end of May 2025, when French deputies adopted the bill creating a “right to help”. But the path remains long. From now on, the text must continue its legislative career in the Senate. So in the meantime, tricolor patients continue to flock to Belgium. According to figures from the Federal Euthanasia Control and Evaluation Commission, 106 French people used it in 2024, against 101 in 2023 and 53 in 2022. “I really hope things will move”sighs Françoise’s son.
False information
In Belgium, a dozen hospital structures organize “end -of -life consultations”. During these meetings, stories and requests are multiple. “I sometimes have proven euthanasia requests and sometimes patients who simply come to take information”specifies Geoffrey Dubois.
Obtaining information is precisely what Marie-Pierre came*. One afternoon, this French woman patient in the waiting room of a Tournai hospital, a city on the border between the two countries. It is here, just a few kilometers from Lille, that she has an appointment with the Dr Jean-Michel Delperdange, who has been holding these consultations for four years. Among his patients, half are French. Marie-Pierre, she does not hide it: she feels «rage» For his country, which does not allow euthanasia.
Using a walker, the woman arrives in the doctor’s office. From the outset, she warns: “My medical file is very complex.” While leaving her bag sheets, Marie-Pierre explains to suffer from several “Small diseases” simultaneously, which make his daily life difficult. So if she’s here today, it’s “To obtain information on Belgian law, on how it could apply” in his case.
“For me, it is more a law on freedom, than on life and death. We can see that we relieve the patient. And that it is something beautiful that we can do. “
Sitting in front of her, Jean-Michel Delperdange patiently listens to her and nods. Once his story is finished, the doctor puts his glasses on his desk, before recalling the conditions provided by law. For the moment, Marie-Pierre does not wish to ask for euthanasia. But when this is the case, “We can meet again” If the conditions are met, agrees Jean-Michel Delperdange. Smiling lips, the Frenchwoman asks her latest questions, before repacking her files.
“Sometimes there are very clear cases, such as metastasized cancers. And sometimes it’s different ”specifies the doctor once the appointment is completed. And obviously, all euthanasia requests do not succeed. Some are eccentric, others do not fall within the framework of the law. However, during the debates in France, several opponents pointed out Belgium, evoking “drifts”. With a lot of false information, retorts the Dr Delperdange. “We will hear for example that we make euthanasia from people who have not asked for anything. It’s false. “ For his part, Geoffrey Dubois adds: “There is a specific law, a procedure to follow.”
The two Walloon doctors note: in Belgium, euthanasia is now largely consensus. So from now on, they hope that France’s gaze will change too. “For me, it is more a law on freedom, than on life and death”insists Jean-Michel Delperdange. From his office, the Tournaisian doctor assures him: euthanasia goes in the direction of why he does this job. “We can see that we relieve the patient. And that it is something beautiful that we can do. “
* The first names have been modified.
