French lawmakers approve assisted dying bill for terminally Ill adults

PARIS: France’s parliament has approved a landmark bill allowing certain terminally ill adults to request medically assisted dying, marking a significant step toward legalizing the practice under strict eligibility criteria.

The legislation would allow eligible patients suffering from incurable, life-threatening illnesses in an advanced or terminal stage to obtain a lethal medication.

Patients capable of administering the medication themselves would do so, while a doctor or nurse could administer it if the patient is physically unable.

Under the bill, the measure would apply only to adults who are French citizens or legal residents and who meet stringent medical conditions outlined in the legislation.

Lawmakers approved the bill by 291 votes to 241, following months of debate over end-of-life care and patient autonomy. However, the legislation must still be reviewed and approved by France’s Constitutional Council before it can become law.

If enacted, France would join countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada that have legalized some form of medically assisted dying for eligible patients.