French lawmakers in the lower house have narrowly approved a controversial bill to legalise assisted dying, a move that many fear could open the door to troubling ethical and societal consequences. While the bill now moves to the Senate, critics warn that rushing such a profound decision risks undermining the value of life and placing vulnerable individuals under immense pressure.

Despite overwhelming public polls reportedly showing support for the legislation, questions remain about the real implications for those who are elderly, disabled, or suffering from mental health issues. The bill’s language attempts to limit assisted dying to adults with serious, incurable, or terminal conditions experiencing unbearable physical or psychological suffering. However, it explicitly excludes psychological suffering as a sole justification — a distinction some argue is both vague and difficult to enforce.

The law permits patients to administer lethal doses themselves or receive assistance from medical professionals, but also allows healthcare workers to refuse participation on moral grounds. Yet the threat of harsh penalties for those accused of obstructing a person’s right to die raises concerns about the potential for coercion and abuses within the healthcare system.

Religious leaders and representatives of multiple faith communities have voiced strong opposition, warning that the legislation could lead to an “anthropological rupture” and increase societal pressure on marginalized groups. Their fears reflect a broader unease that legalizing assisted dying may normalize ending lives rather than addressing underlying issues such as better palliative care or mental health support.

While proponents claim this law is a humanitarian advance and a reflection of public will, critics argue it undermines the principle of protecting the most vulnerable and risks eroding ethical standards in medicine. The push to approve the bill may also fuel a dangerous precedent that could further devalue lives deemed less “worthy” due to illness, age, or disability.

As the bill heads to the Senate, the debate continues over whether this legislation truly serves the best interests of society or whether it opens a perilous path toward the institutional acceptance of assisted death.