France’s National Assembly voted on and approved on Wednesday a law that legalizes both euthanasia and assisted suicide for adults with incurable illnesses and severe suffering. The text passed its third and final reading in the lower house, where 291 deputies voted in favor and 241 against, concluding a legislative process of more than a year marked by debates in the Senate, which has a conservative majority.
The new law guarantees the right to medical assistance in dying under strict conditions: it may be requested only by adults who are French nationals or legal residents and who are suffering from a serious, incurable disease in an advanced or terminal stage that causes physical or psychological suffering considered unbearable and without possibility of relief. In addition, the person must express their will freely, with informed consent and while fully capable.
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 provides the option to present alternatives such as palliative care and reminds that the person can withdraw at any time. When the patient is not physically able to self-administer the medication, the intervention will be carried out by a doctor or a nurse.
The law includes a conscience clause for healthcare personnel, but a professional who refuses to participate is obliged to refer the patient to another colleague willing to perform the procedure.
The text originated as an initiative of President Emmanuel Macron, who since 2024 has sought to make the 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 received the National Assembly’s backing twice and faced two rejections in the Senate, which forced successive revisions and negotiations to reach the necessary consensus.
The law will now be reviewed by the Constitutional Council, to which the government has referred matters because of doubts about specific aspects of the text, such as the two-day reflection period and the conditions applicable to people under legal guardianship. The review will also consider the compatibility between the conscience clause for healthcare professionals and the operation of medical and social end-of-life centers that refuse to hasten death but also avoid therapeutic obstinacy.
The French Catholic Church expressed its opposition to the law’s approval. It described the measure as a serious rupture in the country’s history and warned about the changes it would entail in how society relates to vulnerability, disability, old age and illness.
Macron, in a statement on social media, highlighted the importance of the democratic debate and thanked parliamentarians for the constructive tone of the discussion. He also acknowledged the contributions of citizens, caregivers and associations that participated in the citizens’ convention convened to advise on the issue.
For his part, the President of the Senate, Gérard Larcher, announced his intention to appeal to the Constitutional Council, adding another step to the law’s review process.
Prior to Wednesday’s vote, French law since 2016 allowed continuous deep sedation for terminally ill patients with a short life expectancy. The new regulation places France among the European countries that have legalized, under specific conditions, euthanasia or assisted suicide—such as Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland—as well as countries like Canada and Uruguay.
The government expects that the Constitutional Council’s review will clarify any doubts and ensure that the law’s implementation fully respects the principles of human dignity and personal freedom. With this legislative decision, France has concluded a prolonged period of social and parliamentary debate and has redefined the legal framework on the right to assisted death in the country.
(With information from EFE and Europa Press)