France legalizes assisted dying with landmark euthanasia law

On 15 July 2026 the French National Assembly approved a bill creating a legal right to assisted dying for adults with incurable, terminal illnesses. The vote was 291‑241. The law allows patients to obtain a lethal substance for self‑administration; if physically unable, a doctor or nurse may administer it. Eligibility requires French citizenship or legal residence, a serious incurable disease, unbearable physical or psychological suffering, and a free, informed decision. Psychological suffering alone is excluded. The measure fulfills President Emmanuel Macron’s promise and makes France the ninth country to legalise euthanasia, joining the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, and others. The bill now awaits review by the Constitutional Council after earlier Senate rejections. The French health authority (HAS) has been tasked with defining the specific drugs—potentially propofol, barbiturates and other sedatives—by the end of 2026. Religious groups, including the Catholic Church and evangelical organisations, have voiced strong opposition, warning the law could pressure vulnerable patients. Medical professionals and ethicists continue to debate safeguards and implementation.