France approves assisted dying bill after years of debate
Polls suggest support for a change to the law, but there is considerable opposition politically - with some, as pictured here, saying it positions those eligible as a "burden"
France’s National Assembly has approved a bill that would establish a legal right to assisted dying under strict conditions, following years of political debate and several revisions to the proposal.
Lawmakers voted 291 to 241 in favour of the legislation, which had previously been rejected three times by the Senate, France’s upper house of parliament.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is expected to submit parts of the bill to the Constitutional Council for review before it can officially become law.
Under the proposed legislation, French adults suffering from a serious and incurable life-threatening illness at an advanced or terminal stage would be eligible to request assisted dying. The condition must cause continuous physical or psychological suffering that is considered unbearable or cannot be relieved through treatment.
Applicants would be required to make a voluntary and informed request to a doctor, who would assess the case after consulting relevant professionals within 15 days.
If approved, the patient would undergo a two-day reflection period before proceeding. They would generally be required to administer the life-ending substance themselves, although a doctor or nurse could assist if the patient is physically unable to do so.
The final decision would have to be confirmed by a physician on the day the procedure takes place.
The vote places France among a growing number of European countries that have introduced some form of assisted dying legislation.
Countries including the Netherlands and Belgium legalised assisted dying in 2002, allowing doctors to administer it under specific circumstances involving unbearable suffering from incurable conditions. Switzerland has also permitted assisted suicide for years when assistance is provided without personal gain.
The issue remains deeply divisive in France, with opposition coming from groups including the Catholic Church and sections of the medical community.
Although the bill has now passed the National Assembly four times, it has faced repeated resistance in the Senate, where right-wing parties hold significant influence.
Despite the political divisions, opinion polls indicate that a majority of French citizens support allowing terminally ill patients to choose between continued palliative care and assisted dying.
Ahead of the vote, Lecornu announced plans to refer certain parts of the legislation to the Constitutional Council, a nine-member body responsible for ensuring laws comply with the French constitution.
President Emmanuel Macron has long supported introducing end-of-life legislation, but the process was delayed after he called snap elections two years ago.
Since 2024, successive French governments have been hesitant to move the bill forward, and Lecornu himself has expressed reservations about some aspects of the proposal.
In a statement, his office said that while the National Assembly had conducted extensive discussions on the legislation, the Senate had not provided sufficient examination that addressed both supporters’ expectations and concerns about implementation.
Lecornu asked the Constitutional Council to examine three key areas of the bill:
- The two-day waiting period after medical approval, which critics argue may not provide enough time for reflection.
- Whether people under legal protection due to impaired decision-making capacity can provide valid and informed consent.
- The responsibilities of healthcare and social care institutions, particularly those focused on palliative care, in providing assisted dying services.
Source: BBC
About The Author
