France Legalises Assisted Dying: Is Europe Following?

France's National Assembly has given final approval to an assisted dying law, making it the sixth EU country to permit the practice. The law applies to adults with serious, incurable illnesses causing unbearable suffering. The Netherlands was the first in 2001, followed by Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, and Portugal (though Portugal's law is not yet in force). Germany and Austria allow physician-assisted suicide under strict conditions. The article highlights a geographical divide, with Central and Eastern Europe more conservative than Northern and Western Europe. Courts in several countries have ruled in favor of dying with dignity, prompting legislative debates. Ireland remains an exception in Western Europe but is considering legislation. Assisted dying remains a sensitive ethical issue, especially in religious communities.