France's National Assembly has voted in favor of a bill aimed at legalizing assisted dying, marking a significant step towards potential euthanasia legislation under strict conditions.

The first reading of the bill passed with a vote of 305 to 199 during an emotional session.

Additionally, deputies backed a related law establishing a right to palliative care in specialized end-of-life institutions unanimously.

Following this vote, the proposed legislation will now proceed to the Senate, the upper house of parliament, before returning to the National Assembly for a second reading.

As such, the implementation of the law is not expected to take place until next year.

The French government has characterized the proposed right-to-die law as an ethical response designed to support those who are suffering.

Officials emphasized that it is meant to strike a balance between respect for individual autonomy and the ethical implications of legalized assisted dying.

Under the legislation, a medical team would be tasked with determining a patient's eligibility for access to medically-assisted death, provided the patient has expressed a clear and informed desire to end their life.

Patients would have the option of administering the substance themselves or having it administered by a medical professional if they are unable to do so.

Strict conditions governing the law include: patients must be over the age of 18, possess French citizenship or residency, and be afflicted with a “serious and incurable, life-threatening, advanced or terminal illness” deemed irreversible by medical professionals.

Additionally, the illness must cause “constant, unbearable physical or psychological suffering” that cannot be alleviated through existing medical treatments.

The bill, referred to in France as a law on “end of life” or “aid in dying,” received support from many centrist and left-wing members of President Emmanuel Macron's party and their allies, while most right and far-right deputies opposed it.

Lawmakers were permitted to cast votes based on personal convictions due to the sensitive nature of the issue in a country with deep Catholic roots.

Stéphane Delautrette, a member of the Socialist Party, highlighted the bill's historical significance, stating that it aligns with other major social advances.

Conversely, Patrick Hetzel from the center-right Les Républicains criticized the debate on legalization as premature without first ensuring comprehensive access to palliative care.

Currently, France permits passive euthanasia practices, such as the withdrawal of artificial life support, yet individuals seeking active options for ending their lives must travel to countries where such practices are sanctioned legally.

Advocates for the right-to-die view the proposed legislation as a modest advancement, with Stéphane Gemmani of the ADMD advocacy group describing it as a necessary first step.

Polls indicate a majority of the French public supports the legalization of assisted dying, though France has lagged behind other European nations in enacting such changes.

Countries including the Netherlands and Belgium have permitted euthanasia since 2002 under strict guidelines, while Luxembourg followed suit in 2009. In Spain and Austria, recent laws have also expanded access to euthanasia and assisted dying, reflecting a trend towards greater acceptance across Europe.

The discussions surrounding assisted dying laws continue to evolve as other nations, like the UK, are actively debating similar legislation.