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French Lawmakers Approve Eligibility Criteria for Assisted Dying Legislation

The National Assembly has finalized five eligibility conditions and procedural safeguards for assisted dying, with over 1,200 amendments still under review ahead of the May 27 vote.

Overview

  • Deputies in France's National Assembly approved five cumulative conditions for accessing assisted dying, including age, residency, medical diagnosis, suffering, and free consent.
  • The term 'phase advanced' was defined as an irreversible health deterioration affecting quality of life, based on wording from the Haute Autorité de Santé.
  • Amendments clarified that psychological suffering must be constant and cannot alone justify eligibility for assisted dying.
  • Procedural rules require patients to submit requests in writing or via an adapted method to a non-related practicing physician, excluding teleconsultations.
  • Over 1,200 amendments remain to be debated before the first-reading vote on May 27, with discussions now focusing on procedural and ethical safeguards.