France's assisted dying law faces constitutional challenge

France's National Assembly has definitively adopted a law concerning assisted dying, but the legislation is now being contested before the Constitutional Council. This move marks a significant legal challenge to the newly passed bill.

Multiple challenges have been lodged with the Council, including those from Gérard Larcher, president of the Senate, and anticipated submissions from 60 deputies and 60 senators. Key concerns raised in these challenges focus on the alleged lack of guarantees regarding "free and informed consent" and the protection of vulnerable individuals.

The Constitutional Council now has one month to determine whether the law complies with the French Constitution. The Council can issue interpretative reservations, which would guide how the law is understood and applied through decrees, or it could invalidate certain parts of the text. While partial invalidation is common, leading to the law being promulgated with excised provisions, complete rewrites after new deliberations are rarer.

The article notes an unexpected move by the prime minister just before the vote, interpreted in a particular way, though details are reserved for subscribers. The piece also references related discussions, such as the potential impact on Catholic congregations and the historical context of conscientious objection.