‘A movement whose time has come’: French assisted dying bill passes first stage in historic vote 

Comes just weeks before Kim Leadbeater MP’s Bill returns to House of Commons 

France’s Parliament has today (Tuesday 27th May) voted to progress its assisted dying Bill to the next stage. In a historic vote, Deputies of the National Assembly, the French Parliament’s lower house, today voted 305-199 in favour of passing the “proposition de loi relative à la fin de vie” (End of Life Bill) to its Senate. The vote comes as MPs prepare to debate on Kim Leadbeater MP’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in Westminster at the next day of Report stage on 13th June, with its Third Reading expected on 20th June. 

Today also marks the passing of a bill to improve palliative care services across French territories, which was debated concurrently with the assisted dying bill. This bill pledges a €1.1billion investment in palliative care services by 2034. Both Bills will return to the Senate this autumn and could return to the National Assembly for their final approval at the beginning of next year.  

The End of Life Bill proposes that terminally ill, mentally competent French citizens over the age of 18 should have the choice of assisted dying.Three healthcare professionals would be involved in assessing a patient’s decision: the doctor who receives the initial request, a second independent doctor or nurse, and an expert in the patient’s terminal condition. 

On Friday 13th June, MPs will continue to debate Kim Leadbeater’s Bill on its second day of Report stage. Earlier this month, MPs voted to strengthen key aspects of the Bill. The successful votes included new protections for healthcare professionals and signalled continued parliamentary support for a change in the law on assisted dying. It was the first time the legislation – which would give terminally ill, mentally competent adults the option of an assisted death within strict legal safeguards – returned to the chamber since its Second Reading in November, when a decisive majority of MPs voted in favour of the principle of change following more than four hours of debate. This was followed by more than 90 hours of detailed scrutiny and debate at Committee Stage where improvements to strengthen the Bill  included tighter eligibility criteria, a requirement that doctors can only discuss assisted dying alongside all other available end-of-life options, and the creation of a new Assisted Dying Commission to oversee cases. 

Davina Hehir, Deputy Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said: 

“This is a historic victory for compassion in France. French Deputies have listened to the views of their constituents and voted to progress a Bill that dying people are calling out for. The momentum for law change on assisted dying around the world is undeniable. In Westminster, Parliamentarians are increasingly recognising that the blanket ban on assisted dying is unfair, unkind and unsafe.  They are catching up with the views of the majority of the British public who want to see the law changed.   

“Kim Leadbeater’s Bill has been the most scrutinised Private Member’s Bill in history and every stage of this Bill’s progress has made it stronger, safer and more workable. In November, a majority of MPs backed the principle of assisted dying and as they continue to strengthen this Bill in the following stages, they can be confident that this legislation is not only grounded in choice and compassion but includes greater protections for everyone. We are surrounded by progress and MPs have a chance to make history in the coming weeks. It’s clear that assisted dying is a movement whose time has come.” 

In Scotland, the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, proposed by Liam McArthur MSP, passed its Stage 1 vote earlier this month with strong cross-party support, marking a major step forward in Holyrood. In Isle of Man, the Assisted Dying Bill has cleared all stages in both the House of Keys and the Legislative Council and is now awaiting Royal Assent, with the law expected to come into force as early as 2027. Jersey’s assisted dying bill will be debated later this year, after Assembly Members voted to support the principle of the reform last year. 

The largest ever opinion poll on assisted dying, conducted in early 2024, found three-quarters of Britons support a change in the law, with majority backing in every constituency in Great Britain and across all demographics. 

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For more information or interview requests, please email Molly Pike, Senior Media and Campaigns Officer at Dignity in Dying, molly.pike@dignityindying.org.uk or call 07855209809