France's Assisted Dying Law Awaits Constitutional Review

The French law granting a right to assisted dying was adopted by the National Assembly on 15 July 2026. Ministers Stéphane Lecornu and Serge Larcher have referred the text to the Constitutional Council, which must issue its ruling by mid‑August. The Council will examine only the law’s conformity with the Constitution, not its policy merits or budgetary impact.

Estimated annual implementation costs range from €30 million to €100 million. A separate palliative‑care programme, enacted earlier, earmarks €5.5 billion over ten years to expand end‑of‑life support services. Public authorities will need to assess the financial and organisational consequences if the Council validates the legislation.