France, Jan. 28 -- After a week of fraught and emotionally charged debate, France's Senate will vote on Wednesday on two bills dealing with end-of-life care.

While senators are expected to approve a widely supported plan to strengthen palliative care, their rejection of assisted dying is likely to return the political initiative to MPs in what remains one of the most sensitive societal reforms of the parliament.

Both texts will go to a formal vote at 4:30pm local time.

One, broadly consensual, aims to improve access to palliative care nationwide.

The other is far more controversial, addressing assisted suicide and euthanasia - practices the Senate has consistently refused to endorse.

French parliament adopts long-debated bill to lega...