Macron Promulgates 'Assisted Dying' Law, Offering Choice to Terminally Ill Patients

French President Emmanuel Macron has promulgated a law recognizing the right to assisted dying for terminally ill patients.

The assisted dying law promulgated by President Macron was published in the official gazette on the 19th local time.

The government also plans to soon issue a decree outlining the detailed procedures and regulations of the assisted dying law.

Considered a major social reform during President Macron's term, the law grants the right to assisted dying to certain adults suffering from incurable illnesses.

Assisted dying is permitted only for French citizens or long-term residents of France.

Patients must suffer from an incurable, progressive, or terminal fatal illness that cannot be controlled by medical treatment, and must endure persistent and unbearable physical or psychological pain.

Additionally, patients must be capable of clearly expressing their own will.

Upon receiving a patient's request, a doctor will review the eligibility requirements with experts for 15 days before deciding whether to approve it.

The administration of the lethal substance must be performed by the patient themselves.

Medical staff may intervene only when physical administration is impossible due to conditions such as paralysis.

Countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, and Uruguay already recognize the right to assisted dying for terminally ill patients.

The bill, which received final passage in parliament last month, cleared all legal hurdles after receiving a constitutional ruling of conformity from the Constitutional Council on the 14th.

President Macron welcomed the constitutional ruling on the law as "completing an exemplary democratic debate," but some conservative and Catholic groups condemned it as a violation of bioethics.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.