France’s ‘aid in dying’ law comes into effect after constitutional approval
Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Warm-up
- What end-of-life care options exist in your country?
- Who should make decisions about a patient’s final care? Why?
- How can laws balance personal choice and medical ethics?
Vocabulary
- constitutional
- Related to a country’s highest legal rules and their interpretation.
- incurable
- Describing an illness that cannot be healed by current treatment.
- unbearable
- Too painful or difficult to tolerate.
- eligibility
- The state of meeting the required conditions for something.
- administer
- To give or apply a medicine or substance in a controlled way.
- sedation
- The use of drugs to make someone calm or unconscious.
- conscience
- A person’s moral sense of right and wrong that guides actions.
- clause
- A specific section within a law or legal document.
Reading
France has brought a new "aid in dying" law into force after approval by the country’s constitutional council and publication in the official journal. It establishes a right to assisted dying for adults who are French nationals or long-term residents with conditions judged incurable and causing unbearable pain. A doctor first checks eligibility, then a panel reviews the case. After approval, patients must wait at least two days, confirm the choice on the day, and may withdraw consent at any time. They must administer the lethal substance themselves unless physically unable, when a healthcare worker can help.
Until now, France permitted passive euthanasia and deep sedation, so some patients travelled abroad for active options. Emmanuel Macron, who pledged such a reform in 2022, welcomed what he called an exemplary democratic process. The Jérôme Lejeune Foundation and other critics warned of risks to vulnerable people. The council upheld the law but sought clarifications: a conscience clause for professionals, consideration of legal guardians, and the right of pharmacists, as well as doctors and nurses, to refuse. The clause also applies to private faith-based facilities, provided local needs are still met.
Comprehension
- What triggered the law to come into force in France?
- Who is eligible to request assisted dying under the law?
- What steps must happen before the procedure can take place?
- How can healthcare workers refuse to take part?
- Why did some patients previously travel abroad?
Grammar focus
Adverbs and adverbial phrases: degree
Degree adverbs (very, quite, extremely, mainly) show how strong or large something is. They normally come before the word they modify: very careful, quite thorough. (Examples constructed.)
- Doctors checked eligibility very carefully.
- Some patients travelled mainly abroad for options.
Grammar exercise
Choose the correct option in each sentence.
- Doctors checked eligibility (very carefully / carefully very).
- The panel examined files (thoroughly quite / quite thoroughly).
- The clause was (extremely controversial / controversial extremely).
- Pharmacists can (refuse reasonably / reasonably refuse) on conscience grounds.
- Some patients travelled (mainly abroad / abroad mainly) for options.
Discussion
- Should the minimum waiting period be longer than two days?
- When, if ever, should institutions refuse procedures on conscience grounds?
- How can safeguards protect vulnerable people without blocking access?
- What responsibilities do pharmacists have in end-of-life care?
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