France permits assisted death under specific conditions

France's National Assembly has approved a landmark law that will permit assisted death for terminally ill adults under strict conditions. The legislation, which has the backing of President Emmanuel Macron, passed the lower house with a vote of 291 in favor and 241 against.

The new law applies to adult French citizens or legal residents who are suffering from an incurable, life-threatening illness. To be eligible, individuals must be capable of expressing their free will and must make a formal request to a doctor. This request will be reviewed by at least one other physician and a healthcare professional, with the patient required to reaffirm their decision after a minimum two-day reflection period.

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In 2022, I committed to walking this path together with the French people. I have taken this commitment seriously, humbly, and with full respect for our democracy.

Assisted death will be administered through a lethal substance, which the patient can self-administer or, if physically unable, receive from a doctor or nurse. Healthcare workers will have the right to refuse participation in the procedure. President Macron stated on X (formerly Twitter) that this decision respects the dialogue held in France on this sensitive topic, fulfilling a commitment made at the start of his second presidential term.

While the conservative-dominated French Senate opposed the bill, the National Assembly's decision is final unless the Constitutional Council reviews and potentially modifies it. Assisted death is already legal in several European countries, including Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands, under varying legal frameworks. Public opinion in France appears to favor the new legislation, with a poll in February showing 84% support.

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I am thinking of all those who have personally contacted me, sharing their stories, their doubts, their convictions, and their hopes.