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France passes assisted‑dying law amid constitutional review
France’s National Assembly approved a landmark assisted‑dying bill on 15 July 2026, voting 291 to 241. The legislation creates a legal right for adults with incurable, life‑threatening illnesses to obtain a lethal substance, which they may self‑administer or receive from a doctor or nurse if physically unable. Eligibility requires the person to be a French citizen or legal resident, at least 18 years old, suffering from an advanced or terminal disease, experiencing constant physical or psychological pain, and capable of a free, informed decision. The process mandates multiple medical assessments, a minimum two‑day reflection period, and a review by a specialist panel; it excludes cases based solely on psychiatric disorders or neuro‑degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The bill now awaits scrutiny by France’s Constitutional Council, following a request by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. If upheld, France will join a limited group of countries—including Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and Canada—that have legalized assisted dying. President Emmanuel Macron said, “On this issue … there was only one possible approach: to take the time to listen, engage in dialogue and hold a debate.” Supporters such as Anne Raynaud of the French Association for the Right to Die in Dignity added, “People will be able to decide for themselves when and how they want to die once their suffering has become unbearable.” Opponents, including the Catholic hierarchy and right‑wing parties, warned that the law could expose vulnerable patients to pressure.