French lawmakers have voted to adopt a bill establishing a legal right to assisted dying for adults suffering from incurable conditions. The National Assembly gave final approval to the legislation on Wednesday, capping years of intense ethical and political debate over end-of-life care.
Under the new law, doctors will be permitted to help terminally ill patients die. The legislation allows individuals who request it to receive a lethal substance, provided that strict conditions are met.
With the adoption of this measure, France joins a small group of nations that permit assisted dying. The decision comes as people facing serious illnesses weigh how the choice to aid in dying impacts their lives.