France’s National Assembly Social Affairs Committee has approved a renewed proposal for assisted dying, reviving the contentious bill after last week’s Senate rejection. The committee’s decision clears the way for a plenary vote in the lower house on 24 February.
The Social Affairs Committee, responsible for examining legislation related to health, social security, family, and labour, reviewed the bill following the Senate vote on 28 January, in which 181 senators opposed and 122 supported the measure. The rejection sent the proposal back to the National Assembly for a second reading.
The assisted dying law has been a key promise of President Emmanuel Macron since his reelection in 2022. Initially proposed in 2024, the bill was first approved by the National Assembly in May 2025. At the time, Macron described the vote as “an important step” in advancing palliative care and aid in dying while respecting “sensitivities, doubts, and hopes,” emphasizing dignity and humanity.
The committee-approved text largely mirrors the 2025 version, with one notable adjustment: the removal of a clause that had explicitly excluded “psychological suffering alone” from eligibility criteria.
The legislative process will continue with the full Assembly plenary starting 16 February, leading to the scheduled vote on 24 February. If the bill passes a second time, it will return to the Senate. In the event of continued disagreement, the National Assembly will have the final authority. Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of the National Assembly, said she hopes the law will be adopted by summer.
The proposed legislation would grant adults with severe, incurable illnesses in advanced or terminal stages the right to assisted dying. Only patients whose physical condition prevents them from self-administering life-ending medication would be eligible for support from a doctor or nurse. Applicants must be over 18 and either French citizens or residents of the country.
A team of healthcare professionals—including at least two doctors and a nurse—would be required to verify that the patient has a grave illness, is experiencing constant and untreatable pain, and is seeking lethal medication of their own free will.
The bill also includes a conscience clause for medical staff who object to participating in assisted dying. These professionals would be required to refer patients to other practitioners willing to perform the procedure.
The renewed committee approval marks a significant step in France’s debate over end-of-life care, reflecting ongoing tensions between medical ethics, personal autonomy, and social attitudes toward death. If passed, the law would place France among a small group of European countries granting adults the legal right to assisted dying under strict medical oversight.
