France has officially enacted legislation permitting assisted dying for adults with incurable conditions causing unbearable suffering, following approval by the country’s constitutional court and publication in the official journal on Wednesday. The law makes France the fifth European nation to legalize the practice alongside the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland, as well as Canada.
Under the new framework, eligible patients must be French nationals or long-term residents of legal age. A physician must verify that a patient meets the criteria, after which a panel conducts a formal assessment. Patients are required to wait at least two days following approval and must reaffirm their decision on the day the procedure is to take place. They maintain the right to withdraw consent at any point during this process. The patient is responsible for self-administering the lethal substance, though healthcare workers may assist those physically unable to do so.
President Emmanuel Macron, who campaigned on a right-to-die platform during his 2022 re-election, characterized the law’s implementation as concluding “an exemplary democratic debate” and stated it provided “an essential guarantee.” The legislation’s parliamentary author, identified as a centrist member of parliament, described it as representing significant progress.
The measure generated considerable opposition from various quarters. The Jérôme Lejeune Foundation, which supports individuals with genetic intellectual disabilities including Down’s syndrome, expressed “outrage” at the legislation. Other advocacy groups characterized the law as posing “an absolute danger to the most vulnerable.” Parliamentarians participated in a free vote permitting them to follow personal convictions rather than party directives, reflecting the law’s contentious nature within French society, particularly given the nation’s Catholic heritage and concerns raised by some healthcare professionals.
France’s constitutional council approved the law in full, though it required clarification of certain provisions. The court mandated that healthcare professionals be permitted to refuse participation through a “conscience clause” and that such refusals apply to faith-based institutions where the practice contradicts their mission, provided alternative facilities exist to serve local populations. The council also directed physicians to consult legal guardians when evaluating patient requests.
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