France’s National Assembly Approves Assisted Dying Law Amidst Constitutional Scrutiny

France’s National Assembly has delivered its final approval to a landmark bill establishing a legal right to assisted dying for adults with incurable illnesses, concluding a protracted political and ethical debate. The measure was adopted in a 291-241 vote on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, following three previous readings in the lower house. The legislation, which was first announced by President Emmanuel Macron more than three years ago, now moves to the next stage of its legislative journey, facing immediate review by the Constitutional Council.

The approved text creates a strict legal framework for end-of-life care, permitting patients who are capable of expressing a free and informed wish to receive a lethal substance. Eligibility is restricted to adults suffering from an incurable condition accompanied by unbearable physical pain that is unresponsive to treatment, or where the patient has chosen to cease treatment. While the substance is typically self-administered, the law allows a doctor or nurse to administer it if the patient is physically unable to do so.

The path to this final vote was described by bill author Olivier Falorni, a former lawmaker and current mayor, as “a marathon with hurdles.” The legislation initially passed the National Assembly last year but was rejected by the Senate, the upper chamber. In a move permitted by the constitution, the government allowed the lower house to have the final say without the Senate’s assent, bypassing the deadlock that had characterised the bill’s progress.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has formally requested that the Constitutional Council examine the legislation. His office stated that the review was necessary due to the insufficient debate in the right-wing dominated Senate, arguing that the text had fallen short of addressing the concerns of those worried about its implementation. The Council, whose rulings are binding, has the power to declare the legislation invalid or to express reservations about specific sections.

Opposition to the bill remains entrenched among traditional right-wing figures. Heavyweights from the Les Républicains party, including Senate speaker Gerard Larcher and former interior minister Bruno Retailleau, have staunchly opposed the measure. Despite this resistance, the law represents a significant social reform in France, a country with an increasingly aging population and a history of grappling with the moral and religious questions surrounding end-of-life options.