France's National Assembly gives final approval to assisted dying law, becoming 6th EU country to legalize

Production: By Europod, in co-production with Sphera Network.

EUobserver is proud to have an editorial partnership with Europod to co-publish the podcast series “Briefed” hosted by Léa Marchal. The podcast is available on all major platforms.

Find the full transcript below:

Yesterday, the French National Assembly gave its final approval to the country’s assisted dying law. France now joins five other European countries that already allow the practice.

So, is this a growing trend across Europe?

A Brief History

In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalise euthanasia. Since then, more than 100,000 people have chosen it.

Around 80 percent of cases involve people with advanced cancer. Most of the remaining cases concern neurological or cardiovascular diseases, dementia, or other age-related conditions.

Key Distinctions

Before examining how different European countries regulate assisted dying, an important distinction is necessary:

• Passive euthanasia means stopping life-sustaining treatment.
• Active euthanasia — or assisted dying — involves intentionally ending a person's life at their request.

In the second case, the patient usually administers a lethal substance themselves to end their life. If they are physically unable to do so, a doctor may administer the substance instead.

This is what we are discussing here.

What Does the French Law Allow?

The law applies to adults suffering from:

• A serious and incurable illness
• A compromised life expectancy
• Unbearable physical and psychological suffering

The legislation was passed after months of heated debate. The Senate rejected the bill outright, but under the French Constitution, the National Assembly has the final say.

Either way, the law marks a major societal shift.

The European Landscape

Until now, only five European countries have allowed assisted dying: the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain and Portugal. Their rules differ in some respects, but the overall framework is fairly similar. It is worth noting, however, that although Portugal has adopted a law, it has not yet entered into force.

So five out of 27 EU countries is still far from a majority.

That said, there are signs of change.

In Germany and Austria, for example, euthanasia remains illegal, but physician-assisted suicide is permitted under very strict conditions.

The news outlet Toute l'Europe has mapped the legal framework in every European country. What stands out is that many countries are currently debating the issue, and several are considering new legislation.

A Geographical Divide

The map also reveals a geographical divide. Central and Eastern European countries tend to take a more conservative approach to euthanasia than Northern and Western Europe.

Ireland is something of an exception in Western Europe, where euthanasia remains illegal. But even there, lawmakers are discussing legislation on assisted dying.

The Role of the Courts

Another common feature across Europe is the role played by the courts. In several countries, judges have ruled in favour of the right to die with dignity, paving the way for future legislative changes.

A Sensitive Ethical Issue

Even so, assisted dying remains one of the most sensitive ethical issues in Europe. That is especially true in religious communities, but not only there.

On a subject this complex, it is understandable that countries reach different legal solutions. At the same time, it is healthy that the debate continues to evolve.