Overview

• 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.