French Parliament approves assisted suicide law

The French Parliament has given final approval to a controversial bill that establishes the right to "assisted death," permitting certain patients to access lethal medication under strict conditions. This reform, championed by President Emmanuel Macron, passed the lower house with 291 votes in favor and 241 against after a lengthy legislative process.

France now joins a select group of countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, and Uruguay, that authorize assisted death. The law in France is specifically intended for adults suffering from an incurable disease who can express their need for assistance in a "free and informed" manner and are experiencing unbearable physical suffering. This suffering must be resistant to treatment or, in the patient's opinion, intolerable if they choose to forgo or discontinue medical procedures.

A physician will be tasked with verifying that the patient meets all the required criteria before a committee further evaluates the case. Ultimately, the physician makes the final decision, and the patient can withdraw their consent at any moment. The law mandates that the patient must administer the lethal substance themselves, unless physical limitations prevent them from doing so.

Protesters, identifying as the 'Front de gauche antivalidiste,' demonstrated outside the National Assembly, carrying banners with slogans such as "euthanasia = cost savings," "I am not an excuse to die," and "Before a dignified death, we want a dignified life." They voiced concerns that the law might be motivated by cost-cutting and argued for the prioritization of a dignified life over a dignified death.

The bill's legislative journey is not yet complete, as Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has requested the Constitutional Council, France's highest constitutional authority, to review the legislation. This body, whose decisions are binding, could potentially invalidate the entire law or issue reservations on specific parts.