France's Parliament Approves Assisted Dying Bill for Terminally Ill Adults

France's parliament has approved a bill allowing assisted dying for terminally ill adults under strict conditions, but the legislation still requires approval from the Constitutional Council before it can take effect. If enacted, France will join several other countries that have legalised assisted dying.

France's parliament has approved a landmark bill that would allow assisted dying for terminally ill adults, marking a major step in one of the country's most closely watched ethical and healthcare debates.
Although lawmakers have passed the legislation, it must still undergo review by France's Constitutional Council before it can become law.

PARLIAMENT PASSES LANDMARK LEGISLATION

The lower house of France's National Assembly approved the bill on Wednesday by 291 votes to 241.
The legislation allows eligible terminally ill adults to request a lethal substance that may either be self-administered or administered by a doctor under strictly regulated conditions.
The bill has now cleared parliament after years of political debate and multiple legislative readings.

WHO WILL QUALIFY

Under the proposed law, only French citizens or legal residents suffering from an advanced or terminal life-threatening illness would be eligible.
Applicants must also experience constant physical suffering and be capable of expressing a free, informed and voluntary decision.
Psychological suffering alone would not qualify, meaning patients with severe psychiatric illnesses or neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease would not be eligible solely on those grounds.
Each request must be assessed by a physician and reviewed by a panel of medical experts before approval.

FINAL REVIEW STILL REQUIRED

Despite parliamentary approval, the legislation has not yet become law.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed that the bill will now be reviewed by France's Constitutional Council.
The Constitutional Council has the authority to validate the legislation, reject it entirely or request changes to specific provisions if they are found to conflict with the French Constitution.

MACRON WELCOMES PARLIAMENTARY VOTE

President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the outcome, describing it as the fulfilment of a commitment he made during his 2022 election campaign.
Macron said the reform had been pursued through democratic debate with seriousness and respect for public opinion.
Lawmakers also applauded former deputy Olivier Falorni, who championed the legislation and described its passage as the result of 14 years of parliamentary effort.

SENATE BYPASSED IN LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

The government relied on a constitutional procedure that allowed it to bypass the Senate, where conservative and right-wing parties hold a majority.
The move ensured the legislation could proceed directly to constitutional review despite opposition in the upper chamber.
The decision has drawn attention from both supporters and critics of the proposed law.

FRANCE COULD JOIN GROWING LIST OF COUNTRIES

If the Constitutional Council approves the legislation, France will join a growing number of countries that permit assisted dying under specific legal conditions.
These include Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand and several states in the United States and Australia.
The outcome is expected to have a significant impact on end-of-life care policy and ethical discussions both within France and across Europe.