French Lawmakers Back Assisted Suicide Law

The bill, which sparked debate in France, will allow adults with an incurable illness to take lethal medication.

Deputies applaud the adoption of the bill on the right to assistance in dying following the vote at The National Assembly, France's lower house parliament, in Paris on May 27, 2025. Stephane de Sakutin/AFP via Getty Images

France’s lower house of parliament approved a bill on Tuesday to legalize assisted suicide, paving the way for medical professionals to help adults with incurable illnesses end their lives by taking a lethal substance.

The bill, passed on May 27 by a vote of 305–199, would legalize assisted suicide for any French citizen over 18 suffering from a serious or incurable condition that is life-threatening, advanced, or terminal.