The French National Assembly on Wednesday approved a bill legalizing assisted dying, a significant societal reform debated for years, but faces a challenging path through the Senate. The vote came after lawmakers revisited several amendments that threatened to unravel support for the measure.
The final vote passed with 299 in favor and 226 against, following a day of debate focused on refining the conditions under which individuals could request medical assistance to end their lives. Prior to the vote on the bill as a whole, deputies reversed course on several amendments that could have jeopardized the legislation.
Lawmakers ultimately reaffirmed self-administration of the lethal substance as the standard procedure, with medical administration reserved for cases where the patient is physically unable to do so themselves. The legislation stipulates that the patient must self-administer the medication, unless a physician or nurse is required to assist due to physical incapacity.
Debate also centered on defining the nature of suffering that would qualify an individual for assisted dying. The initial text required patients to demonstrate either physical or psychological suffering. However, at the government’s initiative, lawmakers removed the requirement for physical suffering, clarifying that psychological suffering alone is not sufficient grounds for accessing assisted dying. Olivier Falorni, the centrist deputy who authored the bill, expressed regret over what he characterized as a hierarchy of suffering.
Despite these adjustments, the bill remained largely consistent with its initial form. Deputies confirmed the eligibility criteria, the mandatory multi-disciplinary review process for requests, and the right of conscientious objection for healthcare professionals.
The vote followed the unanimous adoption of a separate, consensus-based bill focused on expanding palliative care services. This companion legislation includes provisions for the creation of intermediate care facilities, bridging the gap between home care and hospital settings.
The legislative journey for the assisted dying bill is far from over. It will be sent to the Senate in April, where a conservative majority previously rejected the measure in its first reading. The government will likely need to invoke a special procedure to reconcile differences between the two chambers, potentially leading to further review in both the Assembly and the Senate, and a final vote in the Assembly.
Falorni expressed optimism that the bill could be definitively approved before the summer, though some observers consider that timeline ambitious.
