A French man, suffering from an illness that could not plan to broadcast his own death on Facebook.
Alain Cocq, 57, plans to broadcast his last days after he started refusing to eat, drink and take drugs on Saturday (Sept.5).
President Emmanuel Macron has previously rejected his request to undergo euthanasia.
Euthanasia is a controversial topic in France.
Namely the right to die with dignity.
Many support this right, while others, especially conservative ones, oppose calls to decriminalize euthanasia.
However, Cocq wants laws in France to be changed so that people who are seriously ill die according to their wishes.
Cocq is known to have a degenerative disease, which causes the artery walls to stick together.
However, Facebook blocked plans to broadcast his death live on the grounds that it did not allow viewing of a suicide.
“While we respect [Cocq] ‘s decision to draw attention to this complex question, we are following expert advice and have taken steps to prevent live broadcasts on Alain’s account,” a Facebook spokesperson told AFP news agency.
“Our company rules do not allow broadcasts that show a suicide attempt.”
Cocq said Facebook blocked its broadcasts until September 8.
He called on his supporters to lobby social media platforms to change his stance.
“Now it’s up to you,” he said.
In July, Cocq wrote a letter to Macron asking the French president to allow him to die “with dignity” describing his “terrible suffering”.
Macron said he was “touched” by the letter, but was unable to grant Cocq’s request because he was “not above the law”.
