France moves closer to legalising assisted dying after National Assembly approval

France has moved a step closer to legalising assisted dying after the National Assembly approved legislation establishing a right to assisted dying for certain adults suffering from serious and incurable illnesses.

The measure, backed by President Emmanuel Macron, was adopted by the lower house on 15 July by 291 votes to 241 and now awaits review by the Constitutional Council before it can enter into force.

The legislation marks one of the most significant social reforms debated in France in recent years.

Macron pledged during his successful 2022 re-election campaign to open discussions on assisted dying, following recommendations from the Citizens’ Convention on End-of-Life Care and earlier government proposals on the issue.

According to the president, the parliamentary process fulfilled a commitment made to the French public.

If approved by France’s highest constitutional authority, the country would join several nations that have legalised assisted dying, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand, and some states in the United States and Australia.

Eligibility criteria

The law would establish a right to assisted dying for adults who meet a series of cumulative conditions.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, be French citizens or legal residents of France, and be suffering from a serious and incurable illness that is life-threatening and in an advanced or terminal stage.

The illness must cause physical suffering that is either resistant to treatment or considered unbearable by the patient after choosing to refuse or discontinue treatment.

Lawmakers specified that psychological suffering alone would not qualify a person for assisted dying. As a result, individuals suffering solely from severe psychiatric disorders or neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease would not be eligible under the legislation.

Patients must also be capable of expressing their wishes freely and in an informed manner throughout the process.

How the system would work

Under the proposed framework, a physician would first examine the patient and verify whether the legal conditions have been met. The request would then be reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel before a final decision is taken.

Patients would normally administer the prescribed lethal substance themselves. However, if they are physically unable to do so, a doctor or nurse would be authorised to administer the substance on their behalf. The legislation therefore covers both assisted suicide and euthanasia.

The bill also creates oversight mechanisms, including reviews conducted by an independent commission attached to the Ministry of Health.

It establishes a conscience clause allowing healthcare professionals who object to participating in assisted dying procedures to decline involvement while directing patients to alternative practitioners.

In addition, the legislation introduces penalties for actions intended to obstruct access to assisted dying or prevent the dissemination of information about the procedure.

A lengthy parliamentary battle

The assisted dying bill has been debated for years and has faced repeated opposition in the Senate.

In January 2026, senators rejected the legislation on first reading by 181 votes to 122. On the same day, however, they overwhelmingly approved a separate bill aimed at guaranteeing equal access to palliative and supportive care by 307 votes to 17.

After amendments by the National Assembly, the bill returned to the Senate, where it was again rejected in May. A joint committee made up of seven deputies and seven senators subsequently failed to reach a compromise in June.

The National Assembly adopted the legislation again on 30 June in a version largely unchanged from previous readings. On 7 July, the Senate formally rejected the bill once more after adopting a procedural motion arguing there was no reason to continue examining the text.

Despite the Senate's opposition, the French Constitution allows the government in certain circumstances to give the National Assembly the final say.

The government used this mechanism to advance the legislation without the approval of the upper chamber, which is dominated by conservative and right-wing parties.

The Senate's alternative approach

Throughout the legislative process, the Senate advocated a more restrictive model based on existing French end-of-life legislation, particularly the Claeys-Leonetti law.

Rather than recognising a right to assisted dying, senators proposed a narrower system of "medical assistance in dying" limited to patients whose life expectancy was threatened in the short term.

The Senate also sought to expand conscience protections for healthcare workers and opposed the creation of a specific offence relating to obstruction of assisted dying.

In the second reading process, deputies introduced additional amendments, including removing a requirement that suffering be constant, allowing requests from patients experiencing intermittent suffering.

They also expanded the multidisciplinary review process to include a family caregiver and created a new offence targeting pressure placed on individuals to seek assisted dying.

Constitutional review

The legislation has not yet completed its legal journey.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has referred the law to the Constitutional Council, France's highest constitutional authority, for review before it can take effect.

The Constitutional Council has the power to approve the legislation, strike down individual provisions, or, in exceptional circumstances, invalidate the entire law. Its ruling will be binding.

Reactions

Macron welcomed the parliamentary vote, saying it fulfilled a commitment made during his 2022 election campaign.

"In 2022, I made a commitment to open this path with the French people. With seriousness, humility, and in full respect of our democracy, that commitment has been honored," he wrote on social media.

Lawmakers also applauded Olivier Falorni, the former deputy who authored the bill and attended the parliamentary session. Falorni described the vote as the culmination of "14 years of parliamentary battles."

Supporters of the legislation have argued that it provides a carefully regulated framework for terminally ill patients seeking greater control over the end of their lives.

Opponents, including influential figures from the conservative Les Républicains party and members of the National Rally, have warned that the measure could lead to abuses and have continued to oppose its adoption.