France's lower house backs assisted dying bill

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00:00After the Assembly voted 305 to 199 in favour of an assisted dying bill,

00:08the bill's rapporteur has hailed an unforgettable day in Parliament.

00:16In this moment I'm thinking of all those I met over the last decade who were ill, and their loved ones.

00:24There are days we know we'll never forget. I will never forget today. Thank you all.

00:33A right to die for any adult living in France long term, at an advanced or final stage of a serious terminal illness,

00:41causing constant physical or psychological suffering, who is considered to be of sufficiently sound mind to make the choice.

00:48It will be a blessed relief for some, like Claude, quadriplegic for the last 20 years.

00:57I've tried to fight it to the end. But now I want to go.

01:03Critics fear, though, that sick, elderly and vulnerable patients may end up taking the assisted dying route

01:12due to tacit societal pressure or difficulty in accessing other types of care

01:17at a time when healthcare services are under strain.

01:20Earlier on Tuesday, the Assembly also adopted a 1.1 billion euro care package

01:25to make up for the large gaps in palliative care provision.

01:28The bill promises new palliative care centres across France

01:32and provides a legal recourse for those who request and do not receive it.

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