France has moved to legalize assisted dying after the National Assembly gave final approval to a landmark bill on July 15, 2026. The legislation, which passed with a vote of 291 to 241, marks a significant shift in the country's approach to end-of-life care. Championed by President Emmanuel Macron as a key social reform, the law follows years of intense national debate and a legislative stalemate between the National Assembly and the Senate. The bill allows adults suffering from serious, incurable, and life-threatening illnesses to receive lethal medication under strict conditions.
To qualify, patients must be French citizens or legal residents who are capable of expressing a free and informed choice. The law requires that the patient be in an advanced or terminal stage of an illness that causes constant physical or psychological suffering which is unresponsive to treatment. Patients are expected to self-administer the lethal substance, though a doctor or nurse may assist if the patient is physically unable to do so. The legislation also emphasizes the importance of palliative care, ensuring that the new right does not replace existing support systems for the terminally ill.
Despite the Assembly's approval, the law does not take effect immediately. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has referred the text to the Constitutional Council to ensure it complies with the French Constitution. This review process, which is expected to conclude within a month, is a standard step for major legislation in France. Once the council confirms the law's validity, it will be officially promulgated, making France one of the few European nations to permit such practices alongside countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain.