France Approves Assisted Dying Legislation Amidst Constitutional Scrutiny
The legislation, which had been rejected three times by the Senate, allows terminally ill adults to access assisted dying under rigorous procedural conditions.
France’s National Assembly has voted 291 to 241 to approve a bill legalising assisted dying for terminally ill adults, marking a significant shift in end-of-life policy after years of parliamentary deadlock. The legislation, which had previously been rejected three times by the upper house, the Senate, now moves to the next stage of the legislative process. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has confirmed that parts of the bill will be referred to the Constitutional Council for examination before it can become law.
The approved measure permits assisted dying for adults suffering from a serious and incurable life-threatening condition in an advanced or terminal stage. To qualify, patients must experience constant physical or psychological suffering that is either unbearable or resistant to treatment. The process requires the patient to freely manifest their intention to a doctor, followed by a mandatory 15-day consultation period. Once the physician confirms eligibility, a two-day reflection period must elapse before the procedure can proceed.
Under the new framework, patients are required to self-administer a lethal substance. If a patient is physically unable to do so, a doctor or nurse may administer the substance on their behalf. The patient’s decision must be verified by the attending physician on the day of the procedure. The legislation aims to provide a legal pathway for those who meet these strict criteria, distinguishing the process from palliative care options.
Prime Minister Lecornu has directed the Constitutional Council to review three specific aspects of the bill. These include the adequacy of the two-day reflection period, the capacity for informed consent among patients under legal protection due to impaired judgement, and the role of health and social care facilities whose primary purpose is palliative care. Lecornu’s office stated that while the lower house debated the bill extensively, the Senate had not allowed for sufficient scrutiny regarding its implementation.
The vote places France alongside other European nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland, which have decriminalised assisted dying or assisted suicide. The issue has been highly contentious in France, facing opposition from the Catholic Church and parts of the medical profession. Although opinion polls suggest a large majority of the French public supports the change, the bill’s passage follows significant delays caused by snap elections called two years ago, which stalled progress despite long-standing support from President Emmanuel Macron.
