France debates contentious 'right to die' law amid medical and ethical concerns

French lawmakers are examining a proposal to create a legal right to assisted dying, with a vote expected on 15 July. Critics such as Dr Christian Passot, a general practitioner and member of the Collectif for the Respect of Medicine, warn that the draft blurs the line between care and killing, uses vague criteria, and could be expanded to minors, disabled or psychiatric patients. Passot also notes that the law offers limited conscience protection for pharmacists and institutional directors, risking trust between doctors and patients.

Deputy Jean‑François Rousset has called for an accelerated vote during a heat wave, prompting strong backlash. The legislation would allow a lethal substance to be administered by physicians or nurses when a patient cannot self‑administer, and its criteria have shifted from a short‑term vital prognosis to a broader notion of an "advanced" disease stage, echoing expansions seen in Belgium, Luxembourg and Canada. Critics argue that France should first improve its palliative‑care system, which currently lacks sufficient structures and staff, rather than legalise assisted death.