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France Votes to Allow Assisted Dying
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- French lawmakers have approved a bill legalizing medically assisted dying for terminally ill patients after more than two years of legislative debate, with the National Assembly passing the bill 291 to 241.
- The law permits doctors to assist adult patients who are French or residents, suffering from incurable, advanced-stage illnesses with unbearable pain, and who can freely express their will to die.
- A medical panel must assess requests within 15 days, followed by a mandatory two-day reflection period before the patient can proceed, with patients typically self-administering the lethal substance unless physically unable.
- This legislation marks a significant social shift in France, joining a small group of countries that allow medically assisted death, expanding beyond previous laws that only permitted refusal of treatment or withdrawal of life support.
