France Legalizes Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults

France's National Assembly has voted to legalize assisted dying for adults suffering from a "serious and incurable" illness that is life-threatening and has reached an advanced, irreversible or terminal stage. Patients must be over 18, capable of making a decision "freely and with full knowledge of the facts," and experiencing "unbearable" suffering. The bill allows for self-administration of a lethal injection or administration by a medical professional if the patient is unable to do so. Health professionals can refuse to participate on moral grounds but must refer the patient to another provider. Psychological suffering alone is excluded as a qualifying condition. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the bill would be referred to France's Constitutional Council for a legal review to ensure compliance with constitutional principles, particularly human dignity. The legislation brings France in line with other European countries like Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands that have legalized various forms of assisted dying.