France on brink of historic vote on assisted dying law

France’s parliament is on the brink of historic vote on a controversial bill that would legalise assisted dying, potentially making the country one of the few in Europe to allow euthanasia under tightly controlled conditions.

The Guardian reports that the proposed legislation forms part of a broader, long-awaited package focused on end-of-life care.

It was supposedly delayed previously by President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly.

Alongside the assisted dying bill, lawmakers are also expected to vote on a separate, less contentious proposal to guarantee the right to palliative care.

These two bills mark the beginning of an extended legislative process.

After the initial vote in the lower house, the proposals must go through the upper house, the Senate, and then return to the lower house for a second reading.

As such, the laws are not likely to come into effect before 2025.

The government has framed the proposed assisted dying legislation as an “ethical response” to the suffering of terminally ill individuals.

Officials insist that the law does not create a new freedom.

Accordint to them, it rather seeks to strike a delicate balance between individual autonomy and societal respect for life.

If passed, the law would allow a team of healthcare professionals to assess whether a patient qualifies for assistance in dying.

Qualified patients would receive access to a lethal substance, which they could administer themselves.

If they were physically incapable, a nurse or doctor could deliver the substance on their behalf.

To be eligible under the proposed law, patients must meet a strict set of criteria.

They must be over 18, either a French citizen or legal resident, and suffer from a severe, incurable illness that is life-threatening, advanced, or terminal.

The illness must cause constant and unbearable physical or psychological suffering that cannot be relieved by medical treatments.

Additionally, the individual must be fully capable of expressing their desire to die freely, clearly, and with full understanding of their situation.

The bill deliberately avoids terms like “euthanasia” or “assisted suicide,” instead describing the measure as “end-of-life” or “aid in dying” legislation.

It is expected to gain support from centrist MPs aligned with President Macron, as well as from left-wing lawmakers.

However, opposition is anticipated from conservative and far-right members of parliament.

Each parliamentary group has been granted a free vote, allowing MPs to vote according to their conscience.

This reflects the sensitivity of the issue in France, where Catholic traditions remain influential.

The bill also faces resistance from many healthcare professionals.

Prime Minister François Bayrou, a practicing Catholic, stated that he has “questions” about the measure and would abstain if he were a voting member.

President Macron, however, has argued that the country needs this kind of legislation, saying that “there are situations you cannot humanely accept.”

Currently, French law allows only passive euthanasia, such as withholding life-prolonging treatments, or deep sedation leading to death.

For those seeking more active end-of-life options, the only choice has been to travel abroad to countries where such procedures are legal.

Right-to-die advocacy groups have cautiously welcomed the bill, though many view it as a modest first step.

Stéphane Gemmani of the Association for the Right to Die with Dignity (ADMD) said the proposal “opens the door” for more progressive changes in the future.

He criticized the current system that forces patients to travel to Belgium or Switzerland, often at great personal expense, saying, “It’s just wrong.”

Public opinion in France has consistently supported legalising assisted dying, but the country has been slower than many of its European counterparts in taking legislative action.

Other nations have already implemented such laws.

In the Netherlands and Belgium, both euthanasia and assisted suicide have been legal since 2002 under strict conditions, including confirmation by a doctor and an independent expert.

These countries have also extended the right to minors under 12 in certain cases.

Luxembourg legalised similar practices in 2009, while Switzerland has allowed assisted suicide since the 1940s.

Austria adopted its law in 2022, and Spain passed legislation in 2021 allowing both euthanasia and medically assisted suicide.

Portugal decriminalised euthanasia in 2023, though the law is still awaiting full implementation.

The UK is also debating the issue.

In November 2024, the British Parliament voted in favour of legalising assisted dying for adults with terminal illnesses and fewer than six months to live.

This is provided they can administer the substance themselves.

The bill, now amended to include a medical opt-out clause, awaits further consideration in the upper chamber.

Scotland has also made progress, passing a first vote on its own assisted dying legislation.

France’s parliamentary vote this week is just the beginning of a long legislative journey.

However, it marks a significant shift in the national conversation about death, dignity, and individual rights.

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