The French Senate voted on Wednesday to block a bill intended to establish a legal framework for assisted dying, a decision that sends the proposal back to the National Assembly, where it could still move forward without the Senate’s backing.
The legislation seeks to permit adults suffering from incurable illnesses to access lethal medication. Only patients whose physical condition makes it impossible for them to administer the medication themselves would be allowed to receive assistance from a doctor or nurse.
Eligibility would be limited to individuals over the age of 18 who either hold French citizenship or reside in France. Before any request could be approved, a multidisciplinary medical team would be required to verify that the patient is affected by a serious and incurable disease at an advanced or terminal stage, is experiencing unbearable pain that warns cannot be relieved, and has expressed a clear and voluntary wish to end their life.
People with severe psychiatric illnesses or neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, would be excluded from the measure.
The bill also includes a conscience clause allowing healthcare professionals to refuse participation in assisted dying. Those who object would nonetheless be obliged to direct patients to other practitioners willing to take part.
Political Reactions and Palliative Care
Initially introduced in 2024, the proposal was passed by the National Assembly in May 2025. However, it faced strong resistance in the Senate, where it was rejected by 181 votes to 122.
Opposition to the text has come from across the political spectrum, ranging from conservative lawmakers who reject assisted dying on ethical grounds to former supporters who believe the final version no longer goes far enough.
Earlier this month, on 21 January, senators voted against Article 4 of the bill, which sets out the criteria for accessing medical assistance in dying. According to the Socialist group, this decision effectively stripped the legislation of its substance.
Bruno Retailleau, leader of the centre-right Republicans party, argued that France does not need a new assisted dying law but rather increased investment to ensure universal access to palliative care. “Caring for people at the end of life means supporting them, not abandoning them,” he wrote on X.
During the same session on 28 January, the Senate overwhelmingly approved a separate bill aimed at strengthening palliative care services nationwide. That measure passed with 307 votes in favour and just 17 against.
Next Steps in Parliament
Reacting to the rejection, National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet expressed regret, saying that assisted dying reflects a strong expectation among French citizens. She confirmed that the bill will return to the Assembly for a second reading during the week of 16 February.
Braun-Pivet said she remains confident that Parliament will be able to pass the law definitively by the summer of 2026.
If approved once again by the Assembly, the text would be sent back to the Senate for another review, where senators could propose amendments or reject it anew. Ultimately, however, the lower house has the power to make the final decision.
President Emmanuel Macron first committed to introducing assisted dying legislation in 2022, following his re-election.
Several European countries, including Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Spain, already allow euthanasia to be carried out by medical professionals. Others, such as Austria, Germany and Italy, permit doctors to assist terminally ill patients in ending their lives.
Meanwhile, a number of European states, among them Ireland, France, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal and Slovenia, are continuing to debate or develop laws on assisted dying or euthanasia.
