France's Constitutional Council fully upholds assisted dying law

Published Aug 14, 02:15 PM UTC

France's highest constitutional authority, the Constitutional Council, has fully upheld a law granting adults with incurable conditions the right to assisted dying. The legislation, passed by parliament in mid-July after years of public debate, allows patients to self-administer a lethal substance, with exceptions for those physically unable to do so who may be assisted by a healthcare worker. Eligibility requires patients to be of legal age, French nationals or long-term residents, and suffering from treatment-resistant or unbearable pain. A physician verifies eligibility, followed by a panel assessment, a two-day waiting period, and same-day confirmation of choice. The ruling is a victory for President Emmanuel Macron, who promised such a law in 2022. France joins the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada in legalizing the practice. The Council identified three 'interpretative reservations' requiring clarification, including the conscience clause for healthcare professionals and private facilities, but did not demand a rewrite of the text.