French National Assembly gives final approval to assisted dying bill

The French National Assembly on Wednesday definitively adopted a bill establishing the right to assisted dying for certain adult patients who meet strict eligibility criteria, reported Xinhua. Under the bill, eligible patients must, among other conditions, suffer from a serious, incurable and advanced-stage illness, experience suffering that cannot be relieved or is deemed unbearable by the patient, and be capable of expressing their wishes freely and with full understanding. A patient seeking assisted dying must submit a request to a physician, who is required to convene a multidisciplinary medical team to assess the application before issuing a reasoned decision. If the request is approved, the patient must confirm it after a mandatory reflection period of at least two days. The legislation also includes a conscience clause allowing healthcare professionals to opt out of participating in the assisted dying process. The bill was definitively approved by the National Assembly after the Senate rejected it three times and a joint parliamentary committee failed to agree on a compromise text. Lawmakers voted 291 in favor, 241 against and 29 abstentions. The legislation will now undergo a constitutional review after being referred to the Constitutional Council. The bill fulfills a pledge made by French President Emmanuel Macron during his second five-year term. It addresses an issue "as intimate as it is serious, one that touches on life, suffering and dignity," Macron wrote on social media platform X after the vote.