Acquittal in France reignites euthanasia legalization debate
On Wednesday, 78-year-old Bernard Pallot was acquitted by the court in Troyes of the charge of murdering his seriously ill wife, Suzanne. He claimed he acted to shorten her suffering. After the verdict was announced, Pallot called for the legalization of euthanasia, reigniting the discussion on this topic in France.
Pallot’s trial, which began on October 28 in the Aube department, captivated the entire country. According to the Polish Press Agency, the man admitted to ending his wife's life, saying he wanted to relieve her suffering. "This trial shows the inadequacy of the law, which places us in difficult situations," he remarked after being acquitted.
The dramatic events occurred on October 11, 2021, in Isle-Aumont. Pallot injected Suzanne with cyanide in her thigh because her life had become, as he described, "unbearable." When this approach proved ineffective, he wrapped an electric cable around her neck for about 20 minutes. "It sounds a bit brutal, but I had no choice," he testified during interrogation.
He killed his wife. He was acquitted
Upon the police's arrival, Pallot admitted to the act without resistance. His acquittal by the jury sparked a wave of comments and once again drew public attention to the issue of euthanasia legalization.
Olivier Falorni, a member of the centrist Democrats Group in the National Assembly and a supporter of changing the law, stated in an interview with France Info: "Through this court decision, the French are addressing deputies and senators and asking them to change the laws."
Work on the "end of life" law, which aims to legalize euthanasia in certain cases, has been suspended since June. The case of Bernard Pallot reopens the debate on the right to a dignified death and raises questions about the legislators' responsibility towards those suffering. The decision now lies in the hands of French parliamentarians, who must respond to the growing expectations of society.
