A key article in the French Government’s controversial End of Life Bill must now be reworked after Senators blocked it.
The Senate rejected Article 4 of the Bill, which defines who may seek help to end their lives by euthanasia or assisted suicide. Those in favour of the Bill thought the requirements were too restrictive, while those opposed rejected the article on principle.
In Europe, euthanasia – where a doctor directly administers a lethal substance to a patient – has been legalised in Spain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium, while Portugal has passed a law that is not yet enacted. Assisted suicide, where a patient administers the lethal drugs, is legal in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Unusual alignment
Health Minister Stéphanie Rist confirmed that she would not withdraw the Bill, despite the need for one of its key provisions to be modified by the National Assembly.
Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition explained: “In an unusual alignment, conservatives and socialists voted together, albeit for sharply different reasons.”
He added: “The future of this central article remains uncertain, as it must now return to the National Assembly to be reworked – and adopted – before being sent back to the Senate.”
As well as rejecting Article 4, Senators voted to add wording which states: “Everyone has the right to the best possible relief from pain and suffering. Everyone is entitled to this right until their death, without any voluntary intervention intended to cause death.”
Laws expanded
Latest figures from Spain reveal that deaths by euthanasia and assisted suicide increased by almost 30 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year, accounting for 0.1 per cent of all deaths.
Since euthanasia and assisted suicide were legalised in 2021, conscience protections for pharmacists – allowing them to object to preparing lethal drugs for a doctor to kill a patient – have already been removed.
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