France Reopens End-of-Life Legislation Debate After Long Hiatus

Lawmakers begin examining two separate proposals on palliative care and assisted dying, with votes scheduled in May amid ethical and procedural tensions.

The French National Assembly has resumed debates on end-of-life legislation, which were interrupted in June 2024 due to the Assembly's dissolution.
The legislative effort is divided into two proposals: one focusing on palliative care and the other on establishing a right to die under strict criteria.
The end-of-life proposal outlines five cumulative criteria for eligibility, including being of French nationality, legal age, and suffering from an incurable condition with unrelieved pain.
Critics, including healthcare professionals, warn that separating the proposals may delay reforms and that an overly broad right to die could undermine palliative care development.
Preliminary hearings began on April 8, 2025, with votes scheduled for May 12 (palliative care), May 19 (end-of-life), and a joint vote on May 27, though extended negotiations may delay final decisions.