U.K. lawmakers approve assisted-dying law
LONDON — British lawmakers voted Friday to legalize assisted dying — a final step in the House of Commons that means the practice will almost certainly be permitted in England and Wales in the coming years, marking a pivotal societal change.
Lawmakers voted 314 to 291 for legalization following an impassioned, four-hour debate. Modeled on a law in Oregon, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will allow terminally ill people to choose to die. Those with less than six months to live will be permitted to seek lethal medication from the National Health Service, subject to approval of two doctors and a panel of experts.
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Starmer voted in favour, while his health and justice secretaries opposed it. However, in a YouGov poll of 2,003 adults surveyed last month and published Thursday, 73% of respondents backed an assisted dying law. 'Change is coming,' hailed Sarah Wootton, chief executive of the Dignity in Dying campaign group. But Catherine Robinson of Right To Life UK insisted the bill 'still faces an uphill battle' to get through the Lords, and her opposition campaign group 'will be fighting it at every stage' to prevent it from becoming law. READ | UK politician says Bangladesh arrest warrant is 'politically motivated smear' The House of Lords now needs to approve the legislation before the end of the current parliamentary year, likely in the autumn, or the bill will fail. If it passes and receives royal assent, it would still be four years before an assisted dying service was implemented. 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