In brief
After years of debate, the French National Assembly voted 291 to 241 to legalise assisted dying for adults with terminal, incurable illnesses. The law imposes strict safeguards, including a 15‑day medical review, a 2‑day reflection period, and provisions for safe self‑administration of lethal substances. While the upper house has previously blocked the bill, public polls indicate majority support for the option. Prime Minister Lecornu will refer parts of the legislation to the Constitutional Council before it becomes law, placing France among a growing list of European countries permitting assisted dying.
The French National Assembly voted 291‑241 to legalise assisted dying for adults suffering from a serious, incurable, life‑threatening illness that causes unbearable physical or psychological pain. The bill, which had previously failed three times in the Senate, introduces a series of safeguards to ensure the practice is only undertaken by genuinely willing patients.
Key provisions include a 15‑day medical review after a patient declares their intention, a mandatory 2‑day reflection period before the lethal substance is taken, and the possibility for the patient to self‑administer or for a qualified medical professional to do so if the patient is incapacitated.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will submit parts of the bill to the Constitutional Council for legal scrutiny, a process that could affect final implementation delays. The council will examine the reflection period length, consent validity for patients with impaired judgement, and the role of care facilities traditionally providing palliative care.
Although political opposition remains—particularly from the Catholic Church and right‑wing elements of the Senate—polls suggest a public majority support the option for terminal patients. France’s move follows similar legislation in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and is comparable to pending reforms in England and Wales.
The decision positions France among a growing group of European countries that have decriminalised various forms of assisted dying, offering an additional choice of end‑of‑life care for those in terminal stages.
