UK Parliament Passes Assisted Dying Bill for Terminally Ill Adults
The UK Parliament has passed the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, allowing assisted dying for terminally ill individuals with strict approval processes.
U.K. on track to allow assisted suicide after Friday vote
World News Group
Overview
- The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed in the UK Parliament with a vote of 314-291, reflecting a majority of 23 votes.
- The legislation permits terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of less than six months to seek assisted death after approval from two doctors and a panel.
- Labour MP Kim Leadbeater's private member's bill on assisted dying is now likely to become law in England and Wales after passing in the House of Commons.
- The bill will advance to the House of Lords for further scrutiny and potential amendments before final approval.
- Implementation of the assisted dying law could take up to four years, marking a significant shift in UK social policy since the legalization of abortion.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the assisted dying bill as a significant legislative development, emphasizing the narrow vote margin and public protests. They exhibit a cautious perspective, highlighting the bill's passage to the House of Lords for scrutiny, reflecting a balance between support for individual choice and concerns over ethical implications.
"The vote paves the way for what could be one of the biggest changes in social policy in the U.K. since the partial legalization of abortion in 1967."
CBS News"The draft law that would legalise assisted dying in some circumstances in England and Wales has cleared all of its initial stages in the House of Commons."
BBC News"The vote by MPs to approve Kim Leadbeater's bill is arguably the biggest vote regarding bodily autonomy since the legalisation of abortion in Great Britain in 1967."
BBC News"U.K. lawmakers on Friday approved a bill to allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to choose to end their lives in a historic vote in Parliament that takes it a step nearer to becoming law."
ABC News"The majority in favour has more than halved since MPs first backed proposals to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales."
BBC News"The vote is potentially the biggest change to social policy since abortion was legalized in 1967."
Associated PressArticles (14)
Center (6)
FAQ
The bill permits assisted dying for adults over 18 who have a terminal illness with a prognosis of less than six months to live, subject to a series of safeguarding checks including approval from two doctors and a multi-disciplinary panel.
After passing the House of Commons, the bill will undergo further scrutiny, debate, and potential amendments in the House of Lords, which can delay or amend the bill but has limited power to block it completely.
The bill includes safeguards such as the creation of a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission led by a commissioner appointed by the prime minister, the requirement of a multi-disciplinary panel to review applications, and independent advocates for vulnerable individuals.
If the bill passes all legislative stages, full implementation of the assisted dying law is expected to take up to four years.
The bill represents a major shift in UK social policy, marking the first legalization of assisted dying for terminally ill adults, a change comparable in social impact to the earlier legalization of abortion.
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