#EU #France – France’s National Assembly gave final approval on Wednesday to a controversial bill that legalizes assisted suicide for terminally ill adults, marking a historic shift in the country’s end-of-life laws.
Lawmakers voted 291 to 241 in favor of the legislation, which creates a regulated “right to assisted dying.” The measure had undergone intense parliamentary scrutiny, multiple revisions, and repeated rejections by the Senate before the lower house overrode opposition to secure its passage.
The bill, championed by President Emmanuel Macron as part of broader end-of-life reforms, allows eligible patients to request lethal medication under strict medical supervision. It stops short of broad euthanasia but permits assisted dying in cases of unbearable suffering from incurable conditions.
Under the new law, access is limited to adults aged 18 and older who are French citizens or legal residents living in France on a stable and regular basis. Patients must suffer from a serious, incurable, life-threatening illness in an advanced or terminal stage. They must experience constant physical or psychological suffering that cannot be relieved by palliative care or is deemed unbearable, and they must be capable of expressing a free and informed choice.
Psychological suffering alone does not qualify, and the law excludes psychiatric conditions as the sole basis for requests. A team of at least two physicians and another healthcare professional must review each case, with a mandatory 15-day assessment period followed by a minimum two-day reflection window for the patient to confirm their decision.
Healthcare workers may conscientiously object but are required to refer patients to willing professionals. The patient typically self-administers the substance, though medical assistance is available when necessary.
Supporters hailed the vote as a victory for personal dignity and autonomy, arguing it ends the suffering of those forced to seek illegal options or travel abroad. Opponents, including Catholic Church leaders and conservative lawmakers, warned of risks to vulnerable populations and potential pressure on medical institutions. Some religious facilities expressed concerns about being compelled to accommodate the practice.
The legislation now heads to the Constitutional Council for review before it can take full effect. If implemented, France will join a small group of nations — including Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Canada — that permit some form of assisted dying.
Image: Palais Bourbon, the house of the National Assembly.
