France officially authorizes assisted dying after Macron promulgates law

Published Aug 19, 01:19 AM UTC

France has officially authorized assisted dying following the promulgation of a law by President Emmanuel Macron, published in the Official Journal on August 19, 2026. The law, validated by the Constitutional Council with reservations, creates a right for certain patients to self-administer a lethal product under strict conditions. Eligible patients must be adults, French or long-term residents, suffering from a serious and incurable condition in a terminal or advanced phase, experiencing unbearable physical suffering, and capable of expressing informed consent. A healthcare professional must be present, and may administer the product if the patient is physically unable. The law, a major societal reform of Macron's second term, follows years of debate and a citizens' convention. It places France among a restricted circle of countries including Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, and Uruguay. The decision has drawn praise from supporters like former MP Olivier Falorni, while groups like the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation expressed outrage, highlighting ongoing societal divisions.

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