Facebook blocks terminally ill man’s plan to livestream his own death

Facebook has stopped a Frenchman suffering from a rare and incurable disease from livestreaming his death.

 After having what he said would be his last liquid, Alain Cocq, 57, posted a video from his bed yesterday, claiming he will stop eating, drinking or taking medication until he dies. 

The former plumbers said he believes he has less than a week to live and would livesteam his death on Facebook from this morning as a protest, after French President Emmanuel Macron rejected his request for euthanasia.

 He said: ‘I know the days ahead are going to be very difficult. But I have taken my decision and I am serene.’

Mr Cocq suffers from a rare condition that makes the walls of his arteries stick together and has lived in great pain for 34 years after multiple operations. He said he would much rather die than his only alternative, which is the ‘degradation of my body’.

Mr Cocq added: ‘I am going to stop hydrating myself when I turn off the lights. Given my general condition, it’s likely to be quick, which is what I hope for, because I’m not a masochist.’ However, the bed-ridden man said he said he would carry on taking painkillers. 

He added: ‘The path to my deliverance is starting and, believe me, I am happy about it. To those I won’t see again, I say goodbye. Such is life.’ In a letter dated Thursday, Macron said French law forbade him from granting his request for the ‘right to leave with dignity’ with a medically-assisted death.

 The President said: ‘With emotion, I respect your approach because it speaks to the very intimate relationship that each of us builds with the end of our life and our death. ‘Because I am not above the law, I am not in a position to grant your request.’

He added: ‘The path to my deliverance is starting and, believe me, I am happy about it. To those I won’t see again, I say goodbye. Such is life.’ In a letter dated Thursday, Macron said French law forbade him from granting his request for the ‘right to leave with dignity’ with a medically-assisted death.

 The President said: ‘With emotion, I respect your approach because it speaks to the very intimate relationship that each of us builds with the end of our life and our death. ‘Because I am not above the law, I am not in a position to grant your request.’

Macron signed off the letter with the words ‘With all of my personal support and my profound respect.’ Before the President wrote to him Mr Cocq had spoken at length with one of his aides over the phone last month.

 After announcing his intention to livestream his death, a message on Mr Cocq’s account on Saturday said that Facebook has blocked him from posting videos until Tuesday. 

Confirming this in a statement, the social media platform said: ‘Our hearts go out to Alain Cocq and those who are affected by this sad situation. 

‘While we respect his decision to draw attention to this complex and difficult issue, based on the guidance of experts, we have taken steps to keep Alain from broadcasting live, as we do not allow the depiction of suicide attempts.’