Macron Signs Euthanasia Law in France
France has officially legalized euthanasia, under which a lethal drug may be administered by the patient themselves or by a medical professional.
On August 19, France's President Emmanuel Macron promulgated a law legalizing euthanasia in the country, reports Tribune Chrétienne.
The document has been published in France's official gazette. The law allows a patient, subject to established conditions, to self-administer a lethal drug. If a person is physically unable to do so, the substance may be administered by a medical professional.
Thus, French legislation enshrines the possibility of intentionally ending a patient's life at their request. Opponents of the law, including representatives of the Catholic community, regard this as the direct legalization of euthanasia.
The Catholic publication sharply criticized the authorities' decision, calling it another step in the "culture of death." The authors recall that in 2024 France also enshrined a woman's freedom to have an abortion in the Constitution, and consider the new law a continuation of the same state policy.
Critics of euthanasia warn that such a practice may particularly affect the seriously ill, the elderly, and those dependent on outside assistance. Instead, they call on the state to develop palliative care and patient support.
The Union of Orthodox Journalists previously reported that religious clinics in France will be required to perform euthanasia.
