The French government has proposed a bill to legalize medically assisted suicide for terminally ill adults under stringent conditions.

Eligibility for the assisted suicide option requires the patient to be an adult over 18, a French citizen or resident, with a grave and incurable illness causing intolerable pain, excluding those with severe psychiatric or neurodegenerative conditions.

The legislation is set for parliamentary debate and a possible solemn vote post-European elections.

Additional funding of 1.1 billion euros for palliative and end-of-life care has been announced by the Health Minister.

The current French law permits sedation for terminally ill patients but stops short of allowing assisted suicide or euthanasia, unlike several other countries where it is legal.

Public support in France for legal end-of-life options has increased over the last two decades.

The National Assembly's commission examining the bill is led by MoDem deputy Olivier Falorni as rapporteur general and Agnès Firmin Le Bodo as president.