UK Parliament Votes to Legalize Assisted Dying
- M.R Mishra
- Jul 6
- 2 min read
In a historic move that could reshape end-of-life care in Britain, the UK Parliament has voted in favor of legalizing assisted dying for terminally ill patients. The controversial bill, which passed its second reading in the House of Commons by 245 votes to 130, would allow mentally competent adults with less than six months to live to request medical assistance to end their lives.
The proposed legislation includes multiple safeguards:
Two doctors must independently confirm the patient's diagnosis and decision-making capacity
A mandatory 14-day cooling-off period between request and procedure
Explicit exclusion for patients with mental illness or disabilities as sole conditions
Supporters, including prominent campaigners like Dame Esther Rantzen who is battling stage four lung cancer, hailed the vote as a victory for compassion.
"This gives people like me the reassurance that we won't have to suffer unbearably at the end," Rantzen told the BBC.
Religious leaders and disability rights groups, however, remain strongly opposed, warning of potential coercion and a slippery slope toward euthanasia.
If the bill clears further parliamentary hurdles, the UK would join a small group of countries including Canada, the Netherlands and several US states that permit some form of assisted dying.
The government has indicated it will allow MPs a free vote on the issue when it reaches final consideration later this year.
Key Highlights of the Bill
The legislation permits terminally ill adults (18+) with a life expectancy of six months or less to request assistance in ending their lives, provided they meet strict criteria including mental capacity, residency requirements, and voluntary decision-making free from coercion.
The process involves multiple layers of protection: two independent medical assessments, a mandatory 14-day reflection period (reduced to 48 hours in imminent death cases), and final approval by a multidisciplinary review panel comprising legal, psychiatric, and social work experts.
Patients must make two formal declarations, and assistance is limited to self-administered approved substances, explicitly excluding euthanasia.
The bill includes strong protections against abuse, with severe penalties (up to 14 years imprisonment) for coercion or fraud, while safeguarding healthcare professionals' right to conscientious objection.
Oversight falls to a newly created Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner, a senior judge who will monitor compliance and report annually. Notably, the law excludes individuals whose sole condition is mental illness or disability and prohibits advertising of assisted dying services.
The legislation will be implemented gradually, with full rollout expected by 2026, and includes a mandatory five-year review to assess its impact on palliative care and vulnerable populations. Wales will have devolved authority to adapt implementation to local needs.
This balanced approach aims to respect patient choice while preventing potential abuses, marking a significant but cautious step in the UK's approach to end-of-life care.
Related Coverage https://news.sky.com/story/mps-back-legalising-assisted-dying-in-historic-commons-vote-13386047