French parliament legalizes assisted dying – POLITICO

PARIS — French lawmakers voted on Wednesday to legalize assisted dying for terminally ill patients, bringing to an end a fraught, months-long process that sowed deep divisions within every political camp.

Patients over the age of 18 suffering from a "serious and incurable" illness that is life-threatening and has reached an advanced, irreversible or terminal stage will be allowed to request assistance in dying, but only if their illness causes "unbearable" suffering and they are capable of making the decision "freely and with full knowledge of the facts."

France is set to join a growing list of European countries that have legalized various forms of assisted dying, including Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands, in a debate that has divided political groups. Voting has gone broadly on personal conscience, religious beliefs and ethical considerations.