French lawmakers voted on Tuesday to approve a bill that would legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults, marking a significant cultural and legal shift in a country long seen as cautious on end-of-life issues. The measure now moves to the Senate for further debate and approval.
President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the result as an “important step” and a moment of progress toward a more compassionate approach to suffering. “With respect for sensitivities, doubts, and hopes, the path of fraternity that I hoped for is gradually opening up,” he said.
The bill passed the National Assembly by 305 votes to 199. It was backed by MPs from the Left Party and Macron’s centrist coalition, while facing strong opposition from the right-wing National Rally, which provided the bulk of the no votes.
If the legislation becomes law, France would allow adults suffering from an incurable and advanced illness to access a lethal substance to end their lives — either by self-administration or, if unable, with assistance from a doctor. Crucially, the bill avoids the use of terms like “euthanasia” or “assisted suicide,” instead framing the measure around patient autonomy and relief from intolerable suffering.
Under the proposed law, strict eligibility criteria would apply: patients must be over 18, either French citizens or legal residents, and diagnosed with a “serious and incurable, life-threatening, advanced or terminal illness.” They must also be experiencing “constant, unbearable physical or psychological suffering” and be capable of making an informed and voluntary decision.
The bill includes a conscience clause allowing doctors to opt out of participating, along with the creation of a registry for those willing to assist. While a groundbreaking move for France — which currently only allows passive euthanasia — the new rules would still be more restrictive than those in several European neighbours.
Countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium have offered legal euthanasia and assisted suicide since 2002, with broader access. Switzerland permits assisted suicide, including for foreigners, a practice that has given rise to so-called “suicide tourism” — something French lawmakers say they aim to avoid. Spain and Austria also allow assisted dying, under varying conditions.
The French proposal is unfolding amid broader European debates over the right to die with dignity. In the UK, a bill legalising assisted dying for terminally ill adults with less than six months to live passed the House of Commons last year and is awaiting scrutiny by the House of Lords.
President Macron’s push for the reform has not been without political friction. Prime Minister François Bayrou, a devout Catholic and longtime ally, has publicly expressed reservations about the bill, reflecting the personal and moral complexity that surrounds the topic for many in France.
Still, right-to-die advocates see the vote as a historic milestone. “This is a pivotal moment for France,” said one campaigner. “While the bill is more cautious than similar laws in Belgium or the Netherlands, it finally acknowledges the right of individuals to make decisions about their own death, with dignity and support.”
The debate now moves to the French Senate, where it is expected to face further scrutiny — but Tuesday’s vote has already made clear that France is on a path toward a more permissive and compassionate end-of-life legal framework.
