British Lawmakers Approve Bill Allowing The Terminally Ill To End Their Lives

Supporters said that the law would bring dignity to the dying and spare them from suffering; opponents said that disabled or elderly people stood a risk of being coerced to end their lives to save money or relieve their families.

British lawmakers gave initial approval on Friday (November 29, 2024) for a bill to assist terminally ill adults in ending their lives in England and Wales, after an emotional debate in which people shared their personal stories of loss and suffering.

Members of Parliament approved the assisted dying bill by a 330-275 vote, signaling their approval in principle for the bill, which will continue to be scrutinized before facing a final vote.

Friday's vote came after hours of debate — at times emotional — that touched on issues of ethics, faith and law. There was no braying and shouting that often marks debates in the House of Commons and speeches were considered respectfully and heard in silence.

Let's be clear, we're not talking about a choice between life or death, we are talking about giving dying people a choice about how to die," the bill's main sponsor, Kim Leadbeater, said as she presented the bill to a packed chamber.

The supporters of the law have argued that it would ensure dignity to the dying, prevent suffering, and safeguard the vulnerable.

Opponents said the disabled and elderly were at risk of being coerced, directly or indirectly, to end their lives to save money or relieve the burden on family members. Others called for the improvement of palliative care to ease suffering as an alternative.

This bill proposed to provide adults older than 18 who are expected to have less than six months to live the option of requesting and receiving assistance to end their life under certain conditions.

They would have to be able to administer the lethal drugs to themselves, and any decision would require approval from two independent doctors and a High Court judge. The proposals do not extend to Scotland or Northern Ireland.

For And Against

Proponents of the bill shared with reporters heartbreaking stories about constituents and relatives who suffered in the last months of their lives and dying people who committed suicide in secret because it is now a crime for anyone to assist them.

Danny Kruger, who was leading the argument against the bill, told lawmakers not to back a "state suicide service." He argued that no amount of safeguards will stop many vulnerable people feeling the pressure to make a request to end their lives.

Mr. Kruger voiced his disappointment at the outcome but said there's a chance lawmakers will reject the bill when it comes back for a vote in the next few months. Some of those voting in favor said they only did so to examine the details further and could potentially vote against it in the future.

"I still think we can stop it," he said.

Across the political divide

Although the proposed bill was by a member of the ruling centre-left Labour Party, Ms Leadbeater, the vote was, in fact, an open one, with alliances formed across the political divide.

The government is more than likely to come up with its assessments on how assisted dying will be funded and how it would impact the U.K.'s state-funded National Health Service, hospice care and the legal system, within the next few months.

Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister didn't show his hand prior to voting however supported the change. Members within his Cabinet included the Health Secretary Wes Streeting, along with the Justice Minister Shabana Mahmood voting against the said change. Similar divisions took place across other political parties also.

Long-time British campaigner Esther Rantzen, who is terminally ill with lung cancer and played a leading role in advocating the need for a vote on assisted dying, voiced her joy at the "wonderful" outcome and said it will give people an "equal choice."

When she was diagnosed with her terminal illness, Ms. Rantzen said she would travel to Switzerland to bring an end to her life, where the law allows assisted dying for non-residents.

Hundreds of people on both sides of the issue gathered outside Parliament on a cold but bright day as the debate continued for nearly five hours.

Opponents held signs saying, "Kill the bill, not the ill," and, referring to the National Health Service, "NHS It's cradle to grave. Not 'til old, inconvenient or expensive!"

The group Dignity in Dying, many wearing pink winter hats, led supporters as they clutched signs saying "Giving me choice over my death," and "You can't cure death. Please make it fear free."

Backers of the measure erupted in cheers when the result was announced and hugged each other.

"It's a relief, it's history, finally we are getting towards having a society that shows love and compassion above the need to just keep people alive," said Joshua Cook, 33, who has Huntington's disease, an incurable neurodegenerative disease.

Other countries where assisted suicide has been legalized include Australia, Belgium, Canada and parts of the United States. Each jurisdiction has varying rules over who qualifies to have it.

Assisted suicide differs from euthanasia, permitted in the Netherlands and Canada. The latter involves a health care practitioner administering a lethal injection at the request of a patient in specific circumstances.