Assisted dying set to become law in England, Wales following historic vote

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - Assisted dying is set to become law in England and Wales following a historic vote in Parliament, where MPs passed the bill by a vote of 314 to 291.

The bill, which legalizes assisted death for terminally ill people, now moves to the House of Lords, where it is not expected to face significant resistance.

The legislation would allow those with less than six months to live the right to an assisted death, pending approval from two doctors and a review panel made up a psychiatrist, a social worker, and a senior lawyer.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed the bill, which sparked emotional debate in the Commons.

Opening the discussion, ruling Labour MP Kim Leadbeater said the time had come to act, calling on fellow lawmakers to “correct the profound injustices of the status quo and to offer a compassionate and safe choice to terminally ill people who want to make it.”

Terminally ill individuals and their families watched the debate from the public galleries and attended a rally in Parliament Square. Outside Parliament, disability rights activists staged a protest, voicing concerns about the implications of the bill.

MPs opposing the legislation warned it could lead to vulnerable people being coerced into ending their lives prematurely. Former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly led the opposition, expressing concern over the safeguards.

“We were promised the gold standard, a judicially underpinned set of protections and safeguards,” he said, referencing objections from professional bodies including the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Amendments were added during the bill’s passage through parliament, including a ban on advertising assisted dying and a restriction preventing medics from discussing it with anyone under the age of 18.

The legislation also states that the person must take the life-ending substance themselves – it cannot be administered by another person.

While the bill does not specify which drug would be used, it would be provided by a doctor.

Provisions were also introduced to support vulnerable groups. Independent advocates would assist people with learning disabilities, autism, or mental health conditions, and a disability advisory board would be created.

A new clause was also added to protect medical professionals and others involved in care. Doctors, care workers, and pharmacists would not be compelled to participate in assisted dying.