France's 'aid in dying' law has come into effect after being approved by the country's highest constitutional authority and published in the official journal, establishing a right to assisted dying for adults with incurable, unbearably painful conditions.
Key facts
- France has formally adopted legislation granting incurably ill adults the right to assisted dying.
- The text was approved by France's highest constitutional authority and published in the official journal.
- The law is referred to as an 'end of life' or 'aid in dying' law rather than 'assisted dying' or 'euthanasia'.
- France joins countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada in legalising the practice.
- The right applies to patients with conditions assessed as incurable and causing unbearable pain.
Legislation granting incurably ill adults the right to assisted dying has been formally adopted in France, according to the Guardian, after the text was approved by the country’s highest constitutional authority and published in the official journal.
The law establishes a right to assisted dying for patients with conditions assessed as incurable and causing unbearable pain. Its formal adoption follows constitutional review and publication, the steps required for the measure to come into effect.
French authorities have chosen to describe the measure as a law on ‘end of life’ or ‘aid in dying’ rather than using the terms ‘assisted dying’ or ‘euthanasia’, according to the Guardian.
With the law’s adoption, France joins a small group of countries that have legalised the practice. The Guardian names the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada among those nations.
The move places France among a limited number of jurisdictions worldwide to permit the practice, marking a significant change in how the country addresses end-of-life care for the incurably ill.
Why it matters
Assisted dying remains legal in only a small number of countries, so France's adoption of the law is a notable shift in end-of-life policy for one of Europe's largest nations. The change affects how incurably ill patients experiencing unbearable pain may approach the end of their lives.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible under France's new law?
According to the Guardian, the law establishes a right to assisted dying for incurably ill adults with conditions assessed as incurable and causing unbearable pain.
What is the law called?
The measure is known as a law on 'end of life' or 'aid in dying' rather than 'assisted dying' or 'euthanasia', according to the Guardian.
Which other countries have legalised the practice?
The Guardian names the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada among the small group of countries that have legalised assisted dying.