French Parliament Adopts Assisted Dying Law
The measure passed 291-241 and would let eligible adults request lethal medication under strict safeguards before constitutional review.
- On Wednesday, France's National Assembly approved a landmark assisted-dying bill, voting 291-241 to allow adults with incurable illnesses to request lethal medication, fulfilling a policy pledge from President Emmanuel Macron announced more than three years ago.
- After being rejected three times by the upper house, which raised concerns about human rights and religious freedoms, the National Assembly gave its final approval, ending years of intense parliamentary debate.
- Patients must be at least 18 and French citizens or legal residents with an incurable illness; the process requires 15 days of assessment and a two-day reflection period before final confirmation.
- Prime Minister Lecornu will refer the act to the Constitutional Council, which has up to one month to review provisions regarding reflection periods, consent protocols, and health facility implementation before the law takes effect.
- With this vote, France joins European nations including Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands in permitting assisted dying, as polls indicate broad public support despite warnings from the Association for the Right to Die With Dignity.
254 Articles
254 Articles
French bishops decry vote legalizing 'assisted dying' as 'turning point' in nation's history
PARIS (OSV News) — France’s bishops are strongly criticizing a “radical choice” made by French lawmakers to legalize “assisted dying.” A watershed vote by the National Assembly July 15 legalized assisted dying, including euthanasia and assisted suicide in certain cases. Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of Marseille and president of the bishops’ conference, lamented that “members of parliament have enshrined in French law the possibility of causing dea…
France approves assisted suicide and euthanasia
Following a long and complicated parliamentary battle, French MPs have now approved assisted suicide and euthanasia, sparking outrage from the country’s bishops. On Wednesday evening, the National Assembly – the lower house – approved the legislation by 291 votes to 241. It was the fourth time the National Assembly passed the legislation, but on three separate occasions the French Senate rejected the bill. However, under a constitutional mechani…
The President of the Senate, Gérard Larcher, referred the bill to the Constitutional Council to help to die. He pointed to "dark areas" and inaccuracies, particularly on the "free and enlightened will of the patient".
France has just adopted a text which makes it possible to use assisted suicide in a very structured way.
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