PARIS (AP) – France's lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, is set to vote on a bill that would permit adults suffering from incurable illnesses to request lethal medication for assisted dying. This legislative move comes amid increasing public demand across Europe for legal end-of-life options.
The vote, anticipated in the late afternoon, represents a crucial legislative milestone in addressing the contentious issue of assisted dying that has been a subject of long-standing debate. Should the bill receive majority approval from lawmakers, it will advance to the Senate for further discussions.
The proposed legislation outlines assisted dying as the process allowing individuals to self-administer a lethal substance under specific conditions. Notably, only those individuals whose physical conditions prevent them from doing this independently would be entitled to obtain assistance from a qualified doctor or nurse.
The bill stipulates stringent criteria for eligibility. Patients must be over the age of 18 and either be French citizens or permanently residing in France. Additionally, a team of medical professionals must ascertain that the patient is suffering from a severe, incurable illness at an advanced or terminal stage, experiences intolerable and unmanageable pain, and wishes to obtain lethal medication voluntarily.
It is important to note that patients with serious psychiatric disorders or neurodegenerative illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease, are excluded from eligibility. The individual wishing to end their life must initiate the request and confirm it after a specified reflection period. Following approval, a physician would issue a prescription for the lethal medication, which could be consumed in various settings, including at home, a nursing home, or a healthcare facility.
In conjunction with this legislation, another bill focused on enhancing palliative care options is also scheduled for a vote. This second measure aims to fortify efforts to alleviate patient suffering and uphold dignity at the end of life.
A report published in 2023 shows that a majority of French citizens support the legalization of end-of-life options. Opinion polls have indicated a rising trend in public backing over the past two decades. Initial discussions in parliament last year were disrupted when President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly, leading to a prolonged political crisis in France.
The legislative process is expected to be lengthy and intricate, with a definitive vote on the measure taking potentially months to be organized. Ultimately, the National Assembly holds final authority over the Senate regarding this issue. Earlier this month, Macron indicated that he might consider a referendum for French voters to endorse the measure should parliamentary discussions become stalled.
Advocates for the legislation have voiced concerns regarding the complexity and duration of the parliamentary process, arguing that it unjustly delays patients seeking end-of-life options. Many French nationals have sought assistance in neighboring countries where euthanasia or assisted suicide is legally sanctioned.
The Association for the Right to Die with Dignity (ADMD) has urged French lawmakers to respect the desire of French citizens for the same rights enjoyed by neighboring countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, and others.
Conversely, spiritual leaders from various religious communities, including Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist representatives, have collectively condemned the bill. They warn against the potential "dangers" of what they describe as an "anthropological rupture," expressing concerns that the proposed policies could exert undue pressure on elderly individuals and those living with illnesses or disabilities.
As France grapples with this complex ethical issue, similar discussions are underway in the United Kingdom. U.K. lawmakers are currently debating a bill aimed at enabling terminally ill adults to end their lives after providing initial approval last November.
Medically assisted suicide allows patients to voluntarily consume a prescribed lethal drink or medication under certain qualifying criteria, while euthanasia involves physicians administering a lethal injection at the patient’s request. Assisted suicide is previously permitted in Switzerland and several U.S. states, whereas euthanasia is currently legal in several countries, including the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Canada, Australia, Colombia, Belgium, and Luxembourg, under specific guidelines.
