Nicole Croisille Chooses Assisted Dying After Cancer Battle

Belgian Euthanasia Provided Dignified Exit for Veteran Actress

Nicole Croisille, a celebrated French actress and singer, opted for assisted suicide in Belgium after a prolonged and debilitating fight against liver cancer. Her decision, revealed in a posthumously published interview, highlights the growing debate surrounding end-of-life choices and access to compassionate care.

A Final Interview, A Difficult Choice

Croisille, 88, passed away on the night of June 3rd, but had courageously shared her reasons for seeking euthanasia with Elle magazine weeks prior, stipulating the interview’s release only after her death. She wanted to avoid drawing attention to the Belgian medical team who provided her care. The artist described a grueling battle with the disease, marked by unsuccessful chemotherapy and increasingly aggressive treatments.

“Why continue to suffer?”

—Nicole Croisille, Actress

Facing a future of dependency and pain, Croisille resolutely stated, “That’s enough.” She expressed a deep desire to maintain her dignity and avoid becoming a burden on others. According to a 2023 report by the World Health Organization, approximately 40 million people globally require palliative care each year, yet access remains limited in many regions. WHO Palliative Care Fact Sheet

Seeking Dignity Across Borders

For years, Croisille had contemplated assisted suicide. Belgium offered a legal pathway, unlike France, where, until recently, such options were limited to clandestine arrangements with willing physicians. She connected with a team at the Namur CHR hospital through the Association for the Right to Die with Dignity (ADMD), describing them as “extraordinary.” Ultimately, she passed away in a Parisian clinic after being urgently hospitalized on June 1st due to a rapid decline in her condition.

The timing held a poignant irony; her calendar for June 4th simply read, “The Grand Départ.”

Croisille’s decision underscores the complex ethical and personal considerations surrounding end-of-life care. Her final words, a plea for “compassion,” serve as a powerful reminder that “Dignity has no age.”