France's National Assembly has given its backing to a new assisted dying law, following a protracted and often contentious debate spanning several years. In a vote on Wednesday, MPs approved the bill by 291 to 241, marking a significant step towards legalising assisted dying under stringent conditions for terminally ill adults. This vote represents the fourth time the lower house has approved such legislation, despite repeated rejections from the Senate, the upper chamber of the French parliament.
The proposed law would permit assisted dying for French adults diagnosed with a "serious and incurable" life-threatening illness that is in an advanced or terminal stage. Crucially, the illness must cause constant physical or psychological suffering deemed unbearable or resistant to treatment. Patients would be required to express their intention freely to a doctor, who would then consult with others before making a decision within 15 days. After a two-day period of reflection, the patient would be expected to self-administer a lethal substance. In cases where a patient is physically unable, a doctor or nurse could carry out the procedure, with the patient's decision verified on the day.
Despite the National Assembly's approval, the path to implementation is not yet clear. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has indicated his intention to refer specific provisions of the bill to France's Constitutional Council for examination. This nine-member authority is tasked with ensuring that new laws comply with the French constitution. Mr Lecornu's office highlighted that while the lower house had extensively debated the bill, the Senate's scrutiny had not fully addressed both supporters' aspirations and concerns regarding its practical application.
The Prime Minister has specifically asked the Constitutional Council to review three key aspects of the law. These include the two-day reflection period for patients, which critics argue is too short; the capacity of patients under legal protection due to impaired judgement to give free and informed consent; and the role of health and social care facilities, particularly those providing palliative care, in offering assisted dying services. President Emmanuel Macron has long supported end-of-life legislation, though snap elections called two years ago significantly delayed the process.
The debate in France mirrors similar discussions in other European nations, including the United Kingdom. Countries like the Netherlands and Belgium legalised physician-administered assisted dying in 2002 for individuals experiencing unbearable suffering from incurable illnesses. Switzerland has also long permitted assisted suicide where the assisting person acts unselfishly. In the UK, a bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales faced delays earlier this year but is anticipated to return to Parliament in September, indicating a continuing national conversation on this sensitive issue.