**French National Assembly Advances Assisted Dying Bill**

In a historic move, the French National Assembly has approved a landmark bill that would permit assisted dying for individuals in the final stages of a terminal illness, marking a significant step forward in the nation's legislative landscape. The measure, which garnered the backing of President Emmanuel Macron, passed with 305 votes in favor and 199 against. It now proceeds to the Senate before a second reading in the National Assembly, with supporters hopeful that it will be enacted by 2027.

Should the bill become law, France will join seven other European Union countries that have legalized some form of assisted dying. Unlike more permissive laws in the Netherlands and Belgium, the French version sets more stringent conditions. Specifically, it would apply to those suffering from a severe and incurable disease that is life-threatening and in an advanced or terminal phase, causing enduring physical or psychological suffering. The patient must clearly express their intention and reconfirm it after a 48-hour waiting period. The lethal dose, once authorised, can be self-administered or administered by a medical assistant if the patient is unable to do so.

The decision followed extensive debates within the Assembly, focusing on the precise qualifications for assisted dying. During these discussions, MPs were allowed a free vote, demonstrating the cross-party nature of the issue. Broadly, support came from the centre and left, while opposition was predominantly from the right and populist right.

Conservative critics raised concerns that the bill's definitions might be too broad, potentially making assisted dying available to individuals who could still have several years to live. They echoed opinions from the Catholic Church, arguing that the measure could pressure vulnerable elderly individuals to choose death to avoid being a burden on their families. One poignant protest saw a 44-year-old woman with Parkinson's disease equate the bill to a "loaded pistol left on my bedside table."

In contrast, some left-wing MPs pushed for amendments to make the bill more inclusive by extending it to minors, non-French nationals, and comatose patients who had left prior instructions. The bill also stipulates that medical personnel opposed to assisted dying are not required to participate, but obstructing an act of assisted dying would be criminalized, carrying a potential two-year prison sentence. However, an amendment proposing a new crime of 'incitement to assisted dying' was dismissed.

Prime Minister François Bayrou, a practicing Catholic, indicated he would abstain if he were eligible to vote, underscoring the personal and ethical complexities surrounding the issue. Two additional legislative proposals concerning terminally ill patients' right to end their lives are simultaneously being reviewed in Westminster and in Scotland, reflecting a broader international conversation on the subject.