Overview
- Parliament on Monday approved a law to expand palliative care, creating dedicated care homes, guaranteeing access to deep and continuous sedation, and funding a multi‑year plan of over €1 billion.
- Following Monday night's vote, the Senate struck down article 2 of the assisted‑dying bill by 151 to 118, removing the provision that defined who could access the procedure and leaving the text without a framework.
- Right‑leaning senators have since filed amendments to delete the remaining articles, a move that could shorten debate and set up a scenario where deputies get the last say under France's legislative process.
- Opponents are also pursuing a shared‑initiative referendum, with Senator Francis Szpiner saying he has 195 parliamentary backers, a step that sends the proposal to the Constitutional Council before any citizen signature drive of about 4.8 million.
- For patients and families, the adopted care law promises more nearby support and pain relief, while the fate of any legal right to assisted dying now hinges on inter‑chamber talks, a possible Assembly override, or a lengthy referendum path that has never yet succeeded.