Assisted dying has been legalised in France, subject to approval from the country’s Constitutional Council.
The National Assembly voted by 291 to 241 to back the much-debated bill, which had already been rejected three times by the Senate, France’s equivalent of the House of Lords.
The bill allows for assisted dying in circumstances where there is a “serious and incurable” life-threatening illness “in an advanced or terminal stage”.
There bill sets out five conditions that must be met to be eligible, including a requirement for candidates to be citizens of France, or legal long-term residents.
The bill defines the ‘advanced stage’ as entering into an irreversible process marked by worsening health that affects quality of life. Patients must also be experiencing suffering linked to the illness, that cannot be relieved by treatment, or the suffering was unbearable enough to refuse treatment. Psychological suffering on its own is not enough to meet eligibility criteria.
As with other jurisdictions exploring assisted dying, freedom of choice is written in to the bill, alongside the need for an informed decision, even if the candidate has previously written advance directives.
The patient must then attest their intention to a doctor, with a decision made within 15 days. After a further two days of reflection the patient can then administer the lethal substance themselves, or have a nurse or doctor do so. Any final decision to go ahead is ratified by the doctor on the day of the procedure.
In the British Isles, the Isle of Man and Jersey are the only two jurisidctions to have passed formal legislation to start the process of legalising assisted dying. The law is expected to be implemented in the Isle of Man in 2027 after its legislative voted to approve plans in April 2025, while Jersey awaits Royal Assent for its bill passed in February of this year.
The Scottish parliament voted against assisted dying in February 2026 by a majority of just 12 MSPs. In England and Wales time ran out for Kim Leadbetter’s private member’s bill, with supporters hoping it will make a return in the near future.
