UK Lawmakers Expected Vote on Legalising Assisted Dying

British lawmakers are set to vote on legislation to legalise assisted dying for the terminally ill, marking the most significant social reform in the UK in decades. This move aligns with a global trend, as countries like Switzerland, the United States (in 10 states plus D.C.), Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, and Australia have legalised or expanded access to assisted dying under varying conditions, often focusing on terminal illness or unbearable suffering. Switzerland was the pioneer in 1942, permitting assisted dying with non-selfish motives, while Oregon was the first U.S. state to legalise it in 1997. Belgium and the Netherlands allow euthanasia and assisted suicide for those experiencing unbearable suffering, including psychiatric conditions, with some provisions for minors under parental consent. The debate in the UK often centers on the principle of autonomy, weighing individuals' rights to choose the timing of their death against societal limits and ethical considerations. This legislation reflects a growing recognition worldwide of the need to provide terminally ill patients the option to end their lives with dignity.