French lawmakers approve assisted dying bill

LeMonde

5 days ago

France's Assemblée Nationale adopted a bill on Tuesday, May 27, to allow adults with incurable illness to take lethal medication, the initial step in a lengthy process that could grant patients medical assistance to end their lives in clearly defined circumstances. The bill received 305 votes in favor and 199 against, after all parties in parliament allowed their lawmakers a free vote on the issue. It will now be sent to the Sénat for further debate. A definitive vote on the measure could take months to be scheduled. In parallel, another bill on palliative care, meant to reinforce measures to relieve pain and preserve patients' dignity, was also adopted on Tuesday, unanimously.
"I'm thinking of all the patients and their loved ones. There are days, you know, you will never forget. I will never forget this day," said Olivier Falorni, the general rapporteur of the bill, amid applause from fellow lawmakers.
"The Assemblée Nationale's vote on legislation concerning the development of palliative care and assisted dying is an important step," President Emmanuel Macron said, on X, after the vote, adding: "With respect for sensitivities, doubts and hopes, the path of fraternity that I hoped for is gradually opening up." Macron has insisted that any authorisation to choose death should be limited to people with incurable illnesses and intense physical or psychological pain.
Strict conditions
The proposed measure on lethal medication defines assisted dying as allowing people to use it under certain conditions, so that they may take it themselves. Only those whose physical condition doesn't allow them to do it alone would be able to get help from a doctor or a nurse.
To benefit, patients would need to be over 18 and be French citizens or live in France. A team of medical professionals would also need to confirm that the patient has a grave and incurable illness "at an advanced or terminal stage," is suffering from intolerable and untreatable pain and is seeking lethal medication of their own free will. Patients with severe psychiatric conditions and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, wouldn't be eligible.
The person would initiate the request for lethal medication and confirm the request, after a period of reflection. If approved, a doctor would deliver a prescription for the lethal medication, which could be taken at home or at a nursing home or a health care facility.
Current French legislation allows passive euthanasia, such as withholding artificial life support, and since 2016 doctors have also been authorised to induce "deep and continuous sedation" for terminally ill patients in pain.
Health Minister Catherine Vautrin said, over the weekend before the vote, that the "French model" of assisted dying would be "strict and closely supervised."
Supported by most French citizens
A 2023 report indicated that most French citizens back legalizing end-of-life options, and opinion polls show growing support over the past 20 years.
Initial discussions in parliament last year were abruptly interrupted by President Emmanuel Macron's decision to dissolve the Assemblée Nationale, plunging France into a months-long political crisis. Earlier this month, Macron suggested he could ask French voters to approve the measure via referendum if parliament discussions get off track.
Macron said last year that France needed legislation because "there are situations you cannot humanely accept." The goal was "to reconcile the autonomy of the individual with the solidarity of the nation," he said.
Stiff opposition
The bill has faced stiff opposition from religious leaders in a country with a longstanding Catholic tradition, as well as many health workers. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, a devout Catholic, said Tuesday that he would abstain if he were a deputy because of lingering "questions."
French religious leaders this month issued a joint statement to denounce the bill, warning about the "dangers" of an "anthropological rupture." The Conference of Religious Leaders in France (CRCF), which represents the Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist communities, said the proposed measures risk exerting pressure on older people and those with illnesses or disabilities.
On the other hand, the Association for the Right to Die with Dignity (ADMD) has called on French lawmakers "to respect the French who want the same right that our Dutch, Belgian, Luxembourgian, Swiss, Spanish, Portuguese neighbors have."
'End of life' or 'aid in dying'
The bill has been widely referred to as focusing on "end of life" or "aid in dying" in the French debate, rather than "assisted suicide" or "euthanasia." Medically assisted suicide involves patients taking, of their own free will, a lethal drink or medication that has been prescribed by a doctor to those who meet certain criteria. Euthanasia involves doctors or other health practitioners giving patients who meet certain criteria a lethal injection at their own request.
If approved, France would join a small group of European countries that give the right to aid in dying, including Germany, Spain, Austria and Switzerland. Until now, French patients wishing to end their lives have had to travel abroad, including to neighbouring Belgium.
Vautrin said she hopes that the Sénat will begin examining the issue this year, and submit its suggested changes back to the Assemblée Nationale in early 2026. "I want this bill to get a final vote by 2027 which is still possible," said the minister.