Macron signs law legalizing euthanasia in France
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French President Emmanuel Macron signs a law legalizing euthanasia for adults with terminal or advanced incurable illnesses, and the text is published in the Journal Officiel on 19 August 2026. The law permits patients over 18 who are French citizens or legal permanent residents to request euthanasia when their suffering is untreatable or unbearable.
Key Facts
- President Emmanuel Macron signed the law after parliament approved it in July and the Constitutional Council ruled it constitutional on 14 August.
- The law took effect on 19 August 2026 with publication in France's official gazette.
- The right to request euthanasia is available to adults over 18 who are French citizens or legally reside in France on a permanent basis.
- Patients must have a terminal or advanced incurable illness and unbearable or untreatable physical pain.
- A health worker is permitted to perform the procedure when the patient is physically unable to self-administer the lethal substance.
Adoption and Approval
The French parliament passed the euthanasia bill in July 2026. France's Constitutional Council ruled on 14 August that the legislation was compatible with the constitution. President Emmanuel Macron signed the law, and the text was published in the Journal Officiel. The law came into force on 19 August 2026, the day of its publication in the official gazette.
Eligibility Criteria
The right to request euthanasia is limited to adults over 18 who are French citizens or legally reside in France on a permanent basis. Applicants must be diagnosed with a terminal or advanced-stage serious and incurable illness that threatens their life. They must also be enduring physical suffering that cannot be relieved by treatment or becomes unbearable when treatment is stopped. The patient must remain fully conscious and must express the choice freely at the time of the decision.
Medical Procedure
The law allows a patient meeting the legal and medical conditions to self-administer a lethal substance under the supervision of a health worker. A doctor's approval and the patient's own request are required before access to the procedure. Health personnel are allowed to perform the procedure directly when the patient is physically incapable of carrying out the act.
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Macron signs law legalizing euthanasia in France
