France’s National Assembly voted on Wednesday to approve a law legalizing both euthanasia and assisted suicide for adults with incurable illnesses and severe suffering. The bill passed its third and final reading in the lower house, with 291 deputies in favor and 241 against, concluding a legislative process of more than a year that was marked by debate in the Senate, which has a conservative majority.
The new law establishes the right to medical assistance in dying under strict conditions: it can only be requested by adults who are French citizens or legal residents and who are suffering from a serious, incurable illness in an advanced or terminal stage that causes physical or psychological suffering considered unbearable and without possible relief. The person must also express their wish freely, with full information and while fully capable of making the decision.
The procedure requires the request to be made in writing to a physician, who must respond within a maximum of 15 days after consulting other professionals. If the request is approved, the patient must confirm their decision after a minimum reflection period of two days.
The protocol also requires that alternatives such as palliative care be offered and reminds that the person can withdraw the request at any time. If the patient is physically unable to self-administer the medication, a doctor or nurse will carry out the intervention.
The law includes a conscience clause for healthcare workers, but any professional who refuses to participate is required to refer the patient to another colleague willing to perform the procedure.
The bill originated as an initiative of President Emmanuel Macron, who since 2024 has sought to make regulation of medical assistance in dying one of the main social achievements of his second term, which ends in May 2027.
The bill went through multiple parliamentary stages: it was approved twice by the National Assembly and rejected twice by the Senate, forcing successive revisions and negotiations to secure the necessary consensus.
The law will now be reviewed by the Constitutional Council, to which the government has appealed over doubts about specific aspects of the text, such as the two-day reflection period and the conditions applicable to people under legal guardianship. There will also be questions about the compatibility between the conscience clause for healthcare professionals and the operation of medical and social care centers dedicated to end-of-life care, which do not accept hastening death but also do not engage in aggressive life-prolonging treatment.
The French Catholic Church expressed its opposition to the law, calling it a serious rupture in the country’s history and warning about the changes it would imply for society’s approach to vulnerability, disability, aging and illness.
Macron, in a social media statement, emphasized the importance of democratic debate and thanked parliamentarians for the constructive tone of the discussion. He also acknowledged the contributions of citizens, caregivers and organizations that participated in the citizens’ convention convened to advise on the issue.
For his part, Senate President Gérard Larcher said he intends to refer the law to the Constitutional Council, adding to the review process.
Before Wednesday’s vote, French law since 2016 allowed deep and continuous sedation for terminally ill patients with a short life expectancy. The new measure places France among European countries that have legalized, under certain conditions, euthanasia or assisted suicide—such as Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland—as well as countries like Canada and Uruguay.
The government hopes the Constitutional Council’s review will clarify any doubts and ensure that implementation of the law fully respects the principles of human dignity and personal freedom. With this legislative decision, France completes a long period of social and parliamentary debate and redefines the legal framework regarding the right to assisted death in the country.
(With information from EFE and Europa Press)