Overview

• On May 27, deputies voted 305 to 199 to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia under strict conditions in a first parliamentary reading.
• Eligible adults must have a serious, incurable illness, remain conscious and capable, and obtain assessments from a medical panel before receiving aid.
• The law shields medical personnel and facilities from prosecution and creates penalties of up to two years in prison and €30,000 fines for obstructing access.
• If the Senate delays or rejects the bill, President Macron has pledged to put the issue to a public referendum to break any parliamentary deadlock.
• Church leaders and conservative deputies have voiced strong opposition, warning that vulnerable patients could face undue pressure to end their lives.