Overview
- The Social Affairs Commission of the French National Assembly approved the aid-in-dying bill on May 2 by a vote of 28 to 15, with one abstention.
- The bill outlines five cumulative eligibility criteria, including being an adult with a serious, incurable illness causing unbearable suffering and the ability to make an informed decision.
- Patients would have the option to self-administer a lethal substance or receive assistance from a willing healthcare provider, a provision that has drawn criticism from conservative lawmakers.
- The aid-in-dying bill will be debated in the National Assembly starting May 12, alongside a separate palliative care bill, with final votes scheduled for May 29.
- The legislation has strong backing from left-wing and Macronist deputies, while facing staunch opposition from RN and LR representatives, highlighting deep political and ethical divides.