France’s ‘aid in dying’ law comes into effect after constitutional approval
France has officially legalized 'aid in dying' for incurably ill adults following constitutional approval. The law requires patients to self-administer the lethal substance unless physically unable, and includes a multi-step verification process by doctors and panels.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in French medical ethics and law, aligning the country with a small group of nations that permit assisted end-of-life procedures.
The patient must administer the lethal substance themselves unless they are physically unable to do so. The patient must administer the lethal substance themselves unless they are physically unable to do so. France France’s ‘aid in dying’ law comes into effect after constitutional approval Right to assisted dying established for patients with conditions assessed as incurable and causing unbearable pain
Prefer the Guardian on Google Legislation granting incurably ill adults the right to assisted dying has been formally adopted in France after the text was approved by the country’s highest constitutional authority and published in the official journal.
The law, known as a law on “end of life” or “aid in dying” rather than “assisted dying” or “euthanasia”, means France joins the small group of countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada to have legalised the practice.
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