France’s constitutional authority approves assisted-dying law
The legislation grants adults suffering from an incurable condition the right to assisted dying, with some provisions requiring clarification.
France's highest constitutional authority validated the entirety of legislation permitting adults with terminal illnesses to opt for assisted dying, while noting certain provisions needed further clarification. This decision makes France the latest country to join the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada in legalizing the practice.
The law, passed by the French parliament in July following extensive debate, grants eligible patients the right to assisted dying. To qualify, patients must be of legal age, French nationals or long-term residents, and experience either unresponsive or unbearable pain despite treatment choices. A physician determines eligibility, and a panel assesses whether the criteria are met, with the doctor making the final decision.
Patients administer the lethal substance themselves, with exceptions for those unable to do so. The constitutional authority acknowledged the need to clarify the conscience clause, which permits healthcare professionals to decline involvement when it conflicts with their mission, provided they are not the sole establishments serving local needs.
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