British lawmakers approve bill that allows the terminally ill to end their lives

British lawmakers approve assisted dying bill in England and Wales, sparking emotional debate on end-of-life choices.

British lawmakers gave initial approval on Friday (November 29, 2024) to a bill to help terminally ill adults end their lives in England and Wales, following an impassioned debate that saw people sharing personal stories of loss and suffering.

Members of Parliament approved the assisted dying bill by a 330-275 vote, signalling their approval in principle for the bill, which will undergo further scrutiny before it goes to a final vote.

Friday's vote came after hours of debate — emotional at times — that touched on issues of ethics, faith and law. There was no braying and shouting that often marks debates in the House of Commons and speeches were considered respectfully and heard in silence.

“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,” the bill’s main sponsor, Kim Leadbeater, said as she presented the bill to a packed chamber.

Supporters said the law would provide dignity to the dying and prevent suffering, while protecting the vulnerable.

Opponents said the disabled and elderly were at risk of being coerced, directly or indirectly, to end their lives to save money or relieve the burden on family members. Others called for the improvement of palliative care to ease suffering as an alternative.

The proposed bill would allow adults over the age of 18 who are expected to have fewer than six months to live to request and be provided help to end their life, subject to several safeguards.