The British parliament has narrowly voted in favour of a bill to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill people. The legislation passed by a vote of 314-291, clearing its biggest parliamentary hurdle and will now undergo months of scrutiny in the House of Lords.
Under the “Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life)” Bill, patients with six months or less left to live can choose to end their lives with medical assistance. However, logistics still need to be thrashed out, including whether the practice would be integrated into the National Health Service (NHS) or operate as a separate unit.
Supporters argue that it ensures dignity and compassion for people with terminal diagnoses, while opponents claim that vulnerable people could be coerced into ending their lives. The bill must begin within four years of being passed, but no timetable has been set for implementation.
Assisted dying laws have been introduced in several countries, including Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, and Austria. In the US, it is legal in 10 states, while in Australia, it has been legal since 2022.
Canada has one of the most liberal systems of assisted dying in the world, introducing Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in 2016 for terminally ill adults. Other countries, including Scotland and France, are considering similar bills.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/21/uk-parliament-approves-assisted-dying-bill-how-would-it-work