France's National Assembly Approves Assisted Dying Bill After Senate Rejection

France’s National Assembly is scheduled to give final approval on Wednesday to a bill allowing adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication. The measure would primarily provide for medically assisted suicide, permitting patients to receive and self-administer lethal medication under strict conditions.

Only those whose physical condition prevents self-administration would receive assistance from a doctor or nurse.

Patients must be at least 18 years old and either French citizens or legal residents. A doctor must consult a team of health care professionals and confirm the patient has a serious and incurable life-threatening illness in an advanced or terminal stage, with unrelievable or unbearable pain, and acting of their own free will.

Psychological suffering alone does not qualify, and people with severe psychiatric disorders or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s are ineligible.

Requests are reviewed by health professionals within 15 days, followed by a reflection period of at least two days. Approved patients may take the medication at a time and place of their choice, including at home or in a health care facility, with France’s national health insurance covering all costs.

The law would enter into force only after review by the Constitutional Council, which has up to one month.

The Senate rejected the bill, but the National Assembly holds final say when the chambers disagree. Senate President Gérard Larcher and Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated they will refer the bill to the Constitutional Council after adoption. Lecornu noted that Senate discussions did not permit the same depth of examination as in the National Assembly.

Its president, Jonathan Denis, stated that a new right does not force anyone to exercise it but ensures wishes are respected. Alliance Vita, in an open letter to Macron, said every effort must be made to ensure immediate access to palliative care and that presenting death as a desirable solution is contrary to human dignity.