France has officially established a right to assisted dying following the enactment of a law governing the system, published Wednesday in the Official Journal, marking a major reform of the country’s end-of-life legal framework.
Law No. 2026-794 of August 18, 2026, on the right to assisted dying, became part of French law after its final adoption by the National Assembly on July 15. The legislation was referred to the Constitutional Council, which approved it on August 14, subject to several provisions, according to Légifrance, the official French website for the publication of legislative and regulatory texts.
The new system grants the right to assisted dying to adult patients who meet medical criteria and make a free and informed request. The law provides for assisted dying to take place within a regulated medical pathway, with several safeguards aimed at verifying the patient’s eligibility and ensuring that their request is persistent.
The reform comes alongside measures to strengthen access to palliative care. A separate law, enacted on May 26, 2026, seeks to guarantee equal access for all to palliative support and care, according to Légifrance.
The adoption of the law followed heated parliamentary debates. The National Assembly ultimately passed it in its final reading by 291 votes to 241, after more than a year of parliamentary consideration, while the Senate had repeatedly opposed the legislation.
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