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French Parliament Approves Assisted Dying Law. France’s parliament has voted to legalize assisted dying for terminally ill adults after months of heated political and ethical debate. The law allows eligible adults with a serious, incurable and life-threatening illness causing unbearable suffering to request assistance in dying. Patients must be able to make the decision freely and with full understanding, while cases based solely on psychological suffering are excluded. Eligible patients will be able to self-administer a lethal injection or have it administered by a medical professional if they are unable to do so. Healthcare workers who object on moral grounds can refuse to participate but must refer patients to another qualified provider. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the legislation will be reviewed by France's Constitutional Council to ensure it complies with constitutional principles. The bill was supported mainly by lawmakers from the center and left, while opposition largely came from conservative and far-right parties. Once the constitutional review is complete, President Emmanuel Macron is expected to formally enact the law, making France one of several European countries to legalize assisted dying.
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