The French National Assembly has adopted a bill on assisted voluntary death. The document was supported by 295 deputies, with 232 voting against. The decision was made after the Senate rejected the bill in January. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
"This vote is the culmination of years of work and broad public debate conducted seriously, with respect and dignity," wrote National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet on X.
The bill sparked heated debates in France over regulating end-of-life assistance. The document was revised several times: some critics believe it was softened too much, while others still call it overly liberal. Meanwhile, deputies overseeing the work on the text stated that the final version "managed to find a balance."
According to the bill's rapporteur Philippe Vigier, the document enshrines new rights for patients, guarantees healthcare workers the possibility to refuse participation on conscientious grounds, and provides protective mechanisms for patients, medical staff, and relatives.
Under the bill, the right to assisted voluntary death will be granted to adult French citizens or people legally residing in the country. This applies to patients with severe incurable diseases at an advanced or terminal stage, who suffer constant unbearable pain and voluntarily request the prescription of a substance.
One key change in the final version is that psychological suffering alone does not grant access to the procedure. If a patient cannot physically take the prescribed substance themselves, a doctor or nurse may administer it.
The medical team must confirm that the patient meets the established criteria: they have a severe incurable disease at an advanced or terminal stage, the pain is unbearable and untreatable, and the request for the substance is voluntary.
The document also introduces a conscientious objection clause for healthcare workers who do not wish to participate in the procedure. In such cases, they must refer the patient to other specialists.
French President Emmanuel Macron promised to introduce an end-of-life bill as early as 2022. The document was first officially presented in 2024, and in May 2025 it was approved by the National Assembly.
However, on January 28, the Senate rejected the bill: 181 senators voted against, 122 in favor. Subsequently, a mixed commission of seven senators and seven deputies was formed to develop a compromise text, but they failed to reach an agreement.
Now the bill will be sent back to the Senate. If the parliamentary chambers cannot agree on the text, the final decision will rest with the National Assembly.