France – World Congress for Freedom of scientific research

French Lawmakers Approve Terminal Sedation, Not Euthanasia

France’s Parliament has approved a bill that will let doctors keep terminally ill patients sedated until death comes but stops short of legalizing euthanasia or assisted suicide. After years of tense debate over the issue and a long journey through Parliament, the bill was passed by the country’s lower house and Senate Wednesday. The text

Euthanasia row over decision to end life support for French quadraplegic Vincent Lambert

A row has broken out over the controversial question of who should take responsibility for a comatose man after doctors refused to decide on ending life support, saying they feared for their safety. According to the parents of Vincent Lambert, 38, left a quadriplegic with severe brain damage after a 2008 motorbike accident. his doctors

Human Rights Court Allows Ending Treatment of Comatose Man

PARIS — Europe’s top human rights court has allowed doctors to stop treatment of a French man left comatose after a car accident seven years ago, a case that has drawn nationwide attention amid debate about end-of-life practices. The European Court of Human Rights on Friday confirmed a decision by a French court last year

France Eases Abortion Restrictions in Sweeping Equality Law

By: Alexandra Stifferlin Called “historic” step in gender equality push France passed legislationthis week allowing women to get abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy with no questions asked, lifting previous restrictions as part of a sweeping and historic law meant to increase gender equality in the country. Previously, a French woman could only get

France passes new end-of-life legislation to alleviate suffering.

France passed legislation on Tuesday giving doctors new powers to place terminally-ill patients in a “deep sleep” until they die, sparking controversy over whether euthanasia should be fully legalised. Eight out of 10 French people are in favour of allowing euthanasia and almost all – 96 per cent – back the “deep sleep” law, polls

French same-sex couples allowed to adopt children conceived via IVF

By James Brooks France’s top civil court, the Court of Cassation, has ruled that children conceived via assisted reproduction overseas can be adopted by same-sex parents. Following a law change in 2013, homosexual couples in France are allowed to adopt but remain barred from using IVF. A few French courts had thus refused adoption rights to

French parliament prepares new end-of-life legislation

Henry Samuel — Doctors in France will have the right to put terminally-ill patients into a deep sleep until they die, under plans unveiled on Friday that reignited a national debate on euthanasia. Apart from Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, few countries in the world explicitly permit euthanasia or assisted suicide. In France, a 2005 law