LONDON — A bill to enable terminally ill adults in England and Wales to end their lives received preliminary approval from British lawmakers on Friday.
Following a passionate debate, Parliament members voted 330 to 275 in favor of the assisted dying bill.
This vote signifies Parliament’s approval in principle, advancing the bill to further review. A similar bill failed this initial hurdle in 2015.
The vote concluded hours of sometimes emotional debate encompassing ethical considerations, grief, legal aspects, faith, crime, and financial implications. Hundreds of individuals from both sides of the issue gathered outside Parliament.
Proponents argued the law would grant dignity to the dying, preventing unnecessary suffering while ensuring sufficient safeguards against coercion. Opponents voiced concerns about vulnerable individuals being pressured, directly or indirectly, into ending their lives to avoid becoming a burden.
Supporters shared poignant stories of constituents and family members who endured suffering in their final months and of individuals who secretly committed suicide because assisting in such acts is currently illegal.
“Let’s be clear, we’re not talking about a choice between life or death, we are talking about giving dying people a choice about how to die,” stated the bill’s primary sponsor, Kim Leadbeater, in her opening address to the crowded chamber.
She acknowledged the difficulty of the decision for lawmakers, adding that “if any of us wanted an easy life, they’re in the wrong place.”
Opponents emphasized the risk of vulnerable, elderly, and disabled individuals being coerced into assisted dying to reduce financial burdens on family members. Others advocated for improved palliative care to alleviate suffering as an alternative.
Danny Kruger, leading the opposition, expressed belief that Parliament could better serve terminally ill individuals than through a “state suicide service,” emphasizing the legislature’s role in protecting the most vulnerable.
“We are the safeguard, this place, this Parliament, you and me,” he stated. “We are the people who protect the most vulnerable in society from harm and yet we stand on the brink of abandoning that role.”
While proposed by a member of the ruling center-left Labour Party, the vote was open, forging alliances between individuals who typically hold opposing political views.
Essentially, the bill would permit adults over 18 with a life expectancy of under six months to request and receive assistance in ending their lives, subject to safeguards and protections. They would need to be capable of self-administering the lethal medication.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a previous supporter of assisted dying, declared governmental neutrality and declined to reveal his vote. Cabinet members expressed both support and opposition to the bill. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the main opposition Conservative Party, announced her opposition.
Other countries with legalized assisted suicide include Australia, Belgium, Canada, and parts of the United States, with eligibility regulations varying by jurisdiction. Over 500 British citizens have ended their lives in Switzerland, where assisted dying is permitted for non-residents.
Assisted suicide differs from euthanasia, legal in the Netherlands and Canada, which involves healthcare professionals administering a lethal injection upon patient request under specific circumstances.