France's National Assembly to vote on assisted dying bill for terminally ill patients
France's National Assembly is set to vote Wednesday on a bill that would allow doctors to help terminally ill patients die. The measure is expected to pass despite opposition from the political right, according to France 24 and the New York Times.
The bill, championed by President Emmanuel Macron, would allow adults with incurable illnesses to access assisted dying. To qualify, patients must be French or have residency permits, be suffering from an incurable illness that is in an advanced or terminal phase, and be experiencing constant, unbearable pain that cannot be relieved. The patient must be capable of making the decision, and the request must be approved by a medical committee. The patient would administer the lethal drug themselves, but if they are unable to do so, a medical professional can assist.
The bill was first introduced in 2024, following President Macron's promise to introduce the legislation after his re-election in 2022. The measure is part of a broader effort to improve end-of-life care in France, which has included expanding palliative care options.
The bill does not explicitly mention suicide or euthanasia but refers to "aid in dying." To qualify, patients must be experiencing constant suffering that cannot be relieved, and their judgment must not be impaired. The patient must make the request themselves, and it must be approved by a medical committee.
The legislative process has been contentious. The Senate, which is controlled by the right wing, has rejected the bill three times. However, under the French constitution, the National Assembly has the final say in legislative matters. After the National Assembly vote, the bill will go to the Constitutional Council for review.
The measure has the support of a majority of the French public but has faced opposition from right-wing public figures, politicians, and religious organizations. Critics argue that the bill could lead to a slippery slope, while supporters say it would provide a dignified option for terminally ill patients.
If the law passes, France would join a small group of nations that permit assisted dying. The Netherlands and Belgium legalized euthanasia in 2002 with strict safeguards, including requirements that the patient be suffering unbearably with no hope of improvement. Switzerland allows assisted dying but prohibits euthanasia. Spain legalized euthanasia and medically assisted dying in 2021 with strict conditions, including written requests and approval by an evaluation committee.
In other European countries, the issue remains contentious. Slovenia and Portugal have had laws decriminalizing assisted dying suspended or blocked. Italy and the UK are still debating the issue, with no national legislation in place.
Follow us for live European news
- 4
- 1
- 1
- 1
4 further sources not geolocated
Articles
France Is Set to Allow Assisted Dying Lawmakers were expected to approve a bill that would allow doctors to help terminally ill patients to die. If the law passes, the country would join a small group of nations that permit the measure.
new york times · about 4 hours ago
The Spanish regional Peoples Party government in Madrid has introduced a law allowing families to claim certain benefits linked to family size before a child is born. Critics say it risks setting Spain on a path toward criminalizing abortion. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/spai...
bluesky_Politico Europe · about 4 hours ago
European countries permitting assisted dying READ: Follow @InsiderPaper for more news
telegram_Insider Paper · about 4 hours ago
Did 17 Colorado Republicans vote against banning sexually explicit AI content about children? Posts spreading the claim may have confused multiple different bills.
snopes · about 4 hours ago
La protection de lenfance, grande oubliée du projet de loi de «protection des enfants» Alors que le gouvernement avait promis de «refonder la protection de lenfance», les professionnels de ce secteur en déshérence voient dans la loi, débattue à lAssemblée à partir de mercredi 15 juillet, une série de mesures techniques et sans moyens.
mediapart · about 4 hours ago
French National Assembly set to adopt assisted dying law in final vote France was on Wednesday set to move closer to joining the ranks of countries that guarantee the right to assisted dying, after the long journey to adoption of a controversial bill championed by President Emmanuel Macron. The lower house of the French parliament is expected to vote to adopt the law at the end of the day on Wednesday, despite critics still urging a fight to keep it off the books.
france24 · about 4 hours ago
Assisted dying bill almost anathema to Frances right wing French lawmakers will vote on Wednesday on a bill that would create a legal right to assisted dying for adults with incurable illnesses, capping an intense ethical and political debate. But the bill is highly controversial and has faced opposition in particular from Frances right, explains France 24s Luke Shrago.
france24 · about 4 hours ago
Zakon o SKOK-u pripravljen, vlada ga bo predvidoma obravnavala v četrtek Med vladnimi gradivi je objavljen predlog zakona o t. i. SKOK-u, ki naj bi ga vlada predvidoma obravnavala na četrtkovi seji. Predlog med drugim prinaša preoblikovanje SDT-ja v tožilski organ SKOK in ustanovitev novega sodišča za zadeve s tega področja.
rtv slovenia · about 4 hours ago
Franciaország hamarosan legalizálja az asszisztált öngyilkosságot Az egyre több európai országban megjelenő életvégi döntéshez való jog Emmanuel Macron régi ígérete.
hvg.hu · about 4 hours ago
Libanon rieši osud tisícov väzňov. Amnestie a zrušenie trestu smrti môžu zmeniť krajinu Libanonský parlament rokuje o balíku zákonov s potenciálom meniť život tisícom ľudí. V hre je zrušenie trestu smrti aj dlho blokovaný zákon o amnestiách.
aktuality.sk · about 4 hours ago
Loi sur la fin de vie : la France rejoint la Belgique, mais à petits pas LAssemblée nationale sapprête à voter, ce mercredi, la loi sur laide active à mourir. Un dispositif qui reste malgré tout en deçà de la loi belge, adoptée il y a près dun quart de siècle. Et même le Premier ministre exprime ses réserves, analyse Le Soir belge.
courrier international · about 4 hours ago
Droit à laide à mourir : ce que prévoit la nouvelle loi sur la fin de vie LAssemblée nationale doit adopter définitivement, mercredi 15 juillet, la proposition de loi ouvrant un droit au suicide assisté pour les malades incurables et en grande souffrance qui le souhaitent.
liberation · about 4 hours ago