Right to die: French Parliament approves assisted dying bill after years of debate

France's National Assembly gave final approval to an assisted dying bill for adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication under strict conditions.

The bill passed 291-241 after being rejected three times by the Senate; the National Assembly has the final say under France's legislative process.

Patients must be at least 18, French citizens or legal residents, with a serious and incurable life-threatening illness in an advanced or terminal stage causing unbearable suffering.

People with severe psychiatric disorders or neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's are not eligible; psychological suffering alone does not qualify.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will refer parts of the bill to the Constitutional Council for review, focusing on the two-day reflection period and other conditions, before it becomes law.