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Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have approved a bill allowing terminally ill adults in England and Wales to end their lives.
The vote marks a major step toward legalizing assisted dying — one of the most significant social policy changes in decades and comparable to Britain's partial legalization of abortion in 1967.
How did the vote go?
Members of Parliament voted 314 to 291 in favor of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill after an emotional debate. The 23-vote difference was slimmer than the 55-vote margin in a similar vote last November, after some lawmakers changed their stance.
The legislation now moves to the House of Lords, which can delay or amend the bill but cannot entirely block it.
The bill has sparked debate across party lines and among the public. Supporters argue that people facing terminal illness should have the right to end their suffering with dignity. They also highlight inequalities, pointing out that wealthier individuals can travel to Switzerland where assisted dying is permitted, while others cannot.
Critics fear the law could pressure vulnerable individuals — particularly the elderly and disabled — into ending their lives due to societal or familial pressures. They warn of potential abuses and stress the need for robust safeguards.
What makes assisted suicide so controversial?
The UK's center-left Labour government remains divided. Prime Minister Keir Starmer supported the bill, but Health Secretary Wes Streeting opposed it. Ministers said they would respect the vote's outcome.
What does the legislation allow?
The bill would permit terminally ill people aged 18 or older in England and Wales, with a prognosis of fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death.
The legislation was changed from a previous version that required a judge's approval. Under the new plan, approval would come from two doctors and a review panel that includes a psychiatrist, a senior legal expert and a social worker.
The bill does not apply to Scotland or Northern Ireland. Scotland is considering its own version of similar legislation.
There is still uncertainty about the financial and logistical implications for the UK's National Health Service, hospice services, and the justice system.
Assisted suicide is legal in several countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, and parts of the US. Rules on eligibility vary widely. It is distinct from euthanasia, which is legal in the Netherlands and Canada, where doctors can administer life-ending drugs at a patient’s request under strict criteria.
Edited by Sean Sinico
