Terminally ill people in England and Wales are set to gain the right to assisted death following a landmark societal shift poised to reshape end-of-life care.
After a protracted debate, Members of Parliament narrowly approved a private member’s bill put forth by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, which could potentially become law within the next four years.
Leadbeater’s bill, which passed with a vote of 314 to 291, reflecting a majority of 23, was celebrated by advocates as “a historic day where facts triumphed over fear.”
The passionate parliamentary discussions were marked by appeals from bill opponents for more robust safeguards against potential coercion by abusers, concerns voiced by disabled individuals, and warnings concerning the significant alteration in the state’s authority related to matters of life and death.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer cast his vote in support of the bill, with MPs granted a free vote on the matter.
The bill will now proceed to the House of Lords, where peers are not expected to obstruct its passage, although adversaries have pledged to continue their opposition efforts there. Royal assent is widely anticipated before the year’s end.
The legislation would grant individuals with less than six months to live in England and Wales the right to seek assisted death, contingent upon the approval of two doctors and a panel comprised of a psychiatrist, social worker, and senior lawyer.
