French parliament set to adopt assisted dying law despite opposition
France's lower house is expected to legalise assisted dying, bringing the country in line with several European neighbours despite fierce political opposition and an impending constitutional review.
The French National Assembly is expected to vote through legislation legalising assisted dying on Wednesday, marking the end of a 14-year political battle to change the country's end-of-life laws.
The bill passed the lower house easily but was rejected by the Senate, which is dominated by the traditional right Les Républicains party. The government used a constitutional mechanism to allow the National Assembly to have the final say without the upper chamber's assent.
However, the legislative process is not over. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has asked the Constitutional Council to review the text once it passes. His office cited the lack of Senate debate, arguing the current draft might fail to meet the aspirations of supporters while adequately addressing implementation concerns. The Council can strike down the law entirely or issue binding reservations on specific sections.
If it survives judicial scrutiny, the law will establish a tightly controlled right to assisted dying for adults with incurable conditions. Patients must be capable of expressing themselves in a "free and informed" manner. They must suffer from physical pain that is either unresponsive to treatment or deemed unbearable after they have chosen to stop or refuse treatment. A physician verifies eligibility before a panel assesses the case, but the doctor ultimately makes the decision alone. Patients retain the right to withdraw consent at any time.
Agnes Firmin Le Bodo, the centre-right former health minister who drafted the 2024 bill, said the law "will be passed because it is balanced". The bill's author, Olivier Falorni, called the path to the vote "a marathon with hurdles" and "the culmination of a struggle".
Opposition remains fierce from both traditional and far-right factions. Les Républicains heavyweights, including Senate speaker Gerard Larcher and former interior minister Bruno Retailleau, have opposed the legislation. Christophe Bentz of the far-right Rassemblement National warned the text is "very dangerous" and carries a risk of "abuses". Religious groups and anti-euthanasia organisations are expected to protest near the parliament.
Fulfilling a 2022 re-election promise by Emmanuel Macron, the reform is viewed as the most significant social change since France legalised same-sex marriage in 2012. If enacted, France will join the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada in permitting the practice.
