France Moves Closer to Legalizing Assisted Dying Amid Heated Parliamentary Debate

Watan-Members of the French National Assembly have approved a landmark provision establishing the “right to assisted dying,” reaffirming the principle that patients must self-administer the lethal substance—except in cases where they are physically incapable. The vote came as part of the ongoing debate on a proposed law by MP Olivier Falorni.

The article was passed with 75 votes in favor and 41 against. A full vote on the complete text is scheduled for May 27. Lawmakers returned to the bill’s original version after a committee amendment in April had allowed patients to choose between self-administration or having a doctor or nurse administer the substance.

MPs adopted a government amendment clarifying that a doctor or nurse may only assist if the patient is physically unable to self-administer, thus restoring the initial version of the bill.

Some MPs viewed this as a “flaw in the balance of the text,” according to Horizons MP and former health minister Agnès Firmin Le Bodo, who emphasized the importance of listening to healthcare providers when drafting such legislation.

Bill author Olivier Falorni expressed disagreement with efforts to limit patient choice, recalling that it was one of the “core points” of the citizen convention initiated by the president to explore the matter.

Falorni added: “I fear a scenario in which a patient who says, ‘Yes, doctor, I want and insist on assisted dying,’ may ultimately be unable to act due to fear or tension.”

The health minister replied that self-administration symbolizes the patient’s will up to the final moment but acknowledged cases where assistance may be necessary if a patient hesitates or becomes physically unable at the moment of ingestion or injection.

Socialist MP Stéphane Delautrette voiced concern, warning that letting doctors judge a patient’s physical capacity could create inconsistency: “Some may see anxiety as physical incapacity, while others may not, and that’s unacceptable.”

The assembly rejected amendments that would allow a relative to administer the substance or permit assisted dying based on advance directives.

Later in the session, lawmakers began debating another major article—defining eligibility criteria for assisted dying. The law, as adopted in committee, outlines five cumulative requirements:

1. The individual must be at least 18 years old.

2. Must be French or a resident of France.

3. Must suffer from a “serious and incurable illness, regardless of cause, threatening life and in an advanced or terminal stage.”

4. The illness must cause “physical or psychological suffering” that is untreatable or unbearable.

5. The patient must be capable of expressing informed and voluntary consent.

A proposal by left-wing MP Hadrien Clouet to lower the eligibility age to 16 with parental approval was rejected.

Earlier in the day, MPs debated the definition of assisted dying and related terminology. Attempts by opponents to replace the term with phrases like “assisted suicide” or “euthanasia” were unsuccessful. Others argued that “right” went too far and preferred framing it as a “freedom” rather than a legal entitlement.

Conservative MP Philippe Gosselin from Les Républicains stated: “Assisted dying already exists. Doctors and nurses provide it every day. We help patients die without directly causing death.”

Far-right National Rally MP Christophe Bentz objected: “Administering a lethal substance—how can that be considered help? It is always giving death.”

Amid deep political divisions, the debate over the assisted dying bill is expected to intensify in the National Assembly on Monday, with over 1,774 proposed amendments still awaiting discussion.