UK MPs Pass Assisted Dying Bill England, Wales

The UK House of Commons has voted in favor of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a landmark legislation that would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to request medically assisted dying under strict safeguards. The bill passed by a narrow majority of 314 to 291 and now proceeds to the House of Lords for further debate and potential amendments before it can become law. Key provisions include requirements that the decision be clear, settled, informed, and free from coercion, with approval needed from two doctors and an expert panel comprising a social worker, legal expert, and psychiatrist. The legislation has sparked significant debate, with supporters emphasizing compassion and the right to avoid agonizing deaths, while opponents, including disability rights advocates, express concerns about the adequacy of the health and social care system and the absence of disabled people's voices in the debate. Prominent supporters such as Dame Esther Rantzen and Sophie Blake have shared personal experiences to highlight the importance of the bill for the terminally ill. The bill's passage marks the most significant change in end-of-life care policy in decades and is expected to become law following parliamentary scrutiny and Royal Assent, with an implementation period thereafter to establish regulatory frameworks.