Assisted dying: Sébastien Lecornu announces an appeal to the Constitutional Council

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that he would refer the law on assisted dying to the Constitutional Council after its adoption. This step aims to have the text's constitutionality examined before its promulgation, as the bill continues to generate heated ethical, legal, and political debates.

Sébastien Lecornu believes that several provisions warrant thorough review by the Constitutional Council, particularly with regard to the constitutional principles governing the right to life, the protection of vulnerable individuals, and the guarantees afforded to both patients and healthcare professionals. Referral to the Constitutional Council suspends the promulgation of the law until the institution issues its decision.

A constitutional review before entry into force

The Constitutional Council will now have to determine whether the provisions adopted by Parliament comply with the requirements of the Constitution. It may validate the text in its entirety, strike down certain articles, or issue interpretative reservations before its potential entry into force.

After several months of parliamentary debate surrounding the creation of a right to assisted dying, a separate text from that dedicated to palliative care, the examination of the law has deeply divided political leaders, healthcare professionals, and associations, making this reform one of the main societal issues of the legislative session.