French MPs Approve Assisted Dying Bill

The French National Assembly has passed a bill permitting assisted dying for individuals in the final stages of terminal illness. The legislation, supported by President Emmanuel Macron, was approved with 305 votes in favor and 199 against. It now proceeds to the Senate before returning to the Assembly for a second reading, with hopes for enactment by 2027.

Under the proposed law, eligible patients must be suffering from a serious, incurable, and life-threatening disease in its advanced or terminal phases, accompanied by constant physical or psychological pain. They must express their intention freely, wait 48 hours, and then confirm it. A doctor would assist in dying after consultation with peers, and the lethal dose would be self-administered by the patient or, if incapable, administered by a medical assistant.

The bill is less permissive than those in countries like the Netherlands or Belgium, which were the first in Europe to legalize assisted dying. A separate bill establishing a right to palliative care also passed without opposition, addressing the estimated 48% of French patients who currently lack access to such care.

President Macron described the approval of both bills as “an important step,” emphasizing the gradual opening of a path of fraternity, with respect for sensitivities, doubts, and hopes. The legislation reflects a significant shift in France’s approach to end-of-life care, balancing individual autonomy with ethical considerations.