'I'm done with medical abuse': actor Arnaud Denis dies by euthanasia in Belgium

Actor and director Arnaud Denis, severely disabled after the insertion of an anti-hernia implant, chose euthanasia to end his suffering on Tuesday at 43, his lawyer Philippe Courtois revealed to AFP. The decision, made in consultation with three doctors in Namur, stemmed from the unbearable pain Denis had endured for months following the implant surgery.

Best known for directing "Les Liaisons dangereuses" and "Les Femmes savantes," Denis had previously removed the implant in the US in 2024 after numerous side effects emerged.

Diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis due to an ASIA syndrome (inflammatory reaction linked to an adjuvant), Denis believed the implant had caused persistent inflammation and damaged his immune system. He expressed despair, stating he could no longer leave his home, lacked a social life, and felt his life had lost all dignity. The doctors offered him no further solutions.

In early 2026, Denis filed an unintentional injuries complaint with the Paris public prosecutor's office, but it was dismissed in late August for insufficient evidence. On January 5, he lamented in a local newspaper, "A man knows deep down inside when he is doomed." On March 18, he was admitted to a palliative care unit awaiting euthanasia approval.

Denis's lawyer accused the medical system of a "silent public health scandal," alleging thousands of patients face high-risk implants without proper information or consent, suffering severe complications, often irreversible. Medtronic acknowledged in a letter to Denis that the implant could cause chronic and acute post-operative pain, a risk highlighted in the device's instructions for healthcare professionals but not provided to patients.