The French parliament approves the law on assisted dying | Health Issues

Parliament approved the text by a vote of 291 to 241, although it still needs to be approved by the Constitutional Council.

French lawmakers have taken up a bill that would make the right legal he was helped to die for chronically ill adults, following a major ethical and political debate.

The law, which was presented on Wednesday to the French parliament, will allow a person to receive a lethal injection under strict conditions, if they request it. This medicine can be self-administered or given by a doctor or nurse if the patient is unable to do so.

Access to dying aid will be granted only to seniors who are French citizens or legally resident in France, and those suffering from terminal illnesses that are at risk of progression or death. It will also be reserved for patients who have constant physical or mental suffering related to the condition, and are able to make “free and informed” decisions.

The lower house of Parliament, the National Assembly, approved the statement by a vote of 291 to 241.

“In this matter, which is as personal as it is difficult, and about life, suffering and dignity, there was only one possible way: to take the time to listen, to talk and to discuss,” he said. President Emmanuel Macron said on X.

“In 2022, I committed to create this path together with the French people. With ambition, humility and respect for our democracy, I have honored this commitment.”

If the country’s Constitutional Council approves the bill, France will join the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada in legalizing assisted dying.

Supporters say the law will give people facing terminal problems more autonomy and control over how they die, while maintaining a stable safety net.

“People will be able to choose for themselves when and how they want to die when their suffering has become unbearable and is no longer possible,” said Anne ⁠Raynaud, representative of the French organization for the right to die with dignity.

Opponents, including sections of the far-right National Rally party and religious groups, said legalizing assisted dying could undermine the process. The Catholic Church is among those who oppose the law, and a bishop has threatened to withhold communion from parliamentarians who follow the law.

“A community based on relationships supports, protects, and cares for people,” said Bruno Retailleau, conservative presidential candidate. “It does not give up on what is weakest among us,” he wrote in his criticism of the X bill.

The French Senate, where abstinence has a majority, voted against it, but the lower house of Parliament has the final say – although the law can be reviewed and changed by the Constitutional Council.