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Poll: Almost half in U.S. creationist
PARIS, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- In a no-surprises vote, France's National Assembly overwhelmingly Tuesday endorsed legislation legalizing passive euthanasia.
With 548 votes out of 551 in favor of the bill, support crossed party lines for a broader patients' rights bill, which includes the passive euthanasia clause. Three lawmakers abstained from voting.
While a first in France, the legislation falls far short of laws in Netherlands and Belgium that allow active euthanasia under strict circumstances, and Switzerland, which allows certain forms of patient suicide.
By contrast, passive euthanasia only allows medical personnel narrow options like withdrawing life sustaining medication.
Like elsewhere in the world, hundreds of doctors in France are believed to have quietly practiced euthanasia at some point in their careers.
But legalizing euthanasia took on new urgency last year after a disabled French man, Vincent Humbert, took his life with his mother's help.
Many conservative politicians and France's top medical ethics committee oppose active euthanasia.
But a number of leftist lawmakers voting in favor of the legislation Tuesday hope it will pave the way for more far-reaching legislation.
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