The French National Assembly approved a bill creating a legal right to assisted dying on May 21, 2026, by a vote of 291 to 241. The measure, if upheld by France’s Constitutional Council, would allow terminally ill adults enduring unbearable suffering to access medical assistance in ending their lives under tightly defined conditions.

The Senate had previously rejected the same assisted dying bill three times before the National Assembly’s decisive vote. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed on the same day that he would refer specific provisions of the bill to the Constitutional Council for legal review, citing concerns about safeguards and implementation.

Under the approved legislation, eligible patients must be adults who are either French citizens or legal residents. They must suffer from a serious, incurable, life-threatening illness in an advanced or terminal stage and experience constant physical or psychological suffering that is unbearable or resistant to treatment. However, lawmakers explicitly ruled that psychological suffering alone would not qualify a person for medically assisted dying. Additionally, individuals with severe psychiatric disorders or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s are excluded from eligibility.

The process requires patients to freely express their wish to a physician, who then consults with other medical professionals and makes a determination within 15 days. After receiving approval, the patient must undergo a mandatory two-day reflection period before proceeding. The patient is generally required to self-administer the lethal substance, but if physically unable to do so, a doctor or nurse may administer it.

A physician must verify the patient’s decision on the day of the procedure, and the lethal medication may be taken at a time and place of the patient’s choosing—including at home or in a healthcare facility. All associated costs would be covered by France’s national health insurance system.

Prime Minister Lecornu explained that while the National Assembly held “extensive debates” on the bill, the Senate’s handling of the legislation did not allow for “such an in-depth examination, in order to produce legislation that addresses both the aspirations of its supporters and the concerns of those who are worried about how it will be implemented.” He specified that his referral to the Constitutional Council would focus on three key points: the adequacy of the two-day reflection period, the capacity of patients under legal protection due to impaired judgment to provide free and informed consent, and the role of health and social care facilities whose primary mission is palliative care in delivering assisted dying services.

Senate President Gérard Larcher, a critic of the measure, also announced on May 21 that he would refer the bill to the Constitutional Council once it was formally adopted. The Council now has up to one month to assess whether the bill complies with the French Constitution. The law will not enter into force until that review is complete.

President Emmanuel Macron, who first announced the assisted dying initiative over three years ago, welcomed the Assembly’s vote. Posting on X, he stated, “On this issue, which is as personal as it is serious, and which concerns life, suffering and dignity, there was only one possible approach: to take the time to listen, engage in dialogue and hold a debate.” He added, “In 2022, I made a commitment to forge this path together with the French people. With seriousness, humility and full respect for our democracy, I have honoured that commitment.” The legislative process was delayed two years ago when Macron called snap elections.

Supporters hailed the vote as a historic step toward patient autonomy. The Association for the Right to Die With Dignity said the law would allow people “to choose to end unbearable suffering, freely and with full awareness.” Jonathan Denis, the group’s president, emphasized that “a law that creates a new right never forces anyone to exercise it,” and added that it “ensures that every person … can remain at the heart of medical decisions that concern them and have their wishes respected.” Anne Raynaud, another representative of the association, said, “People will be able to decide for themselves when and how they want to die once their suffering has become unbearable and can no longer be relieved.”

Critics, however, voiced strong opposition. The anti-euthanasia group Alliance Vita wrote in an open letter to Macron that “every effort must be made to ensure that people who are suffering have immediate access to palliative care and support.” The organization also warned that “presenting death as a desirable solution can never be an acceptable response to suffering and is contrary to human dignity.” Conservative presidential candidate Bruno Retailleau posted on X that “a society grounded in fraternity supports, protects, and cares for people,” and added, “It never gives up on the most fragile among us.” Sections of the far-right National Rally party have also opposed the legislation.

The Catholic Church has consistently opposed the bill, and on May 21, one bishop threatened to deny communion to lawmakers who supported it—a religious consequence in a country with deep Catholic roots. This ecclesiastical sanction underscores the moral and theological divisions the legislation has exposed.

The bill’s passage marks a major shift in France’s end-of-life policy, placing it among a growing number of nations that permit some form of assisted dying. While euthanasia is legal in countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Canada, Colombia, Australia, and New Zealand, and assisted suicide is permitted in Switzerland, Austria, and several U.S. states, France had long resisted such measures despite public support. A 2023 report found that most French people favor legalizing end-of-life options.

According to various estimates, assisted dying is now available to approximately 300 million people worldwide. The Constitutional Council’s upcoming review will determine whether France joins that list, potentially reshaping how the nation balances individual autonomy, medical ethics, and the sanctity of life.