UK Parliament Backs Assisted Dying Bill for Terminally Ill

Landmark Vote Advances Assisted Dying Legislation in England and Wales

In a significant development, British lawmakers in the House of Commons have voted to advance a bill that would legalize medically assisted dying for eligible terminally ill adults in England and Wales. On Friday, June 20, 2025, the proposed legislation, known as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, passed a crucial vote by a margin of 314 to 291.

This vote marks the second time lawmakers have approved the principle of assisted dying, following an earlier approval in November 2024 (which passed with a wider margin of 330-275). The intervening months saw intense scrutiny and debate in parliamentary committees, leading to key amendments to the bill’s provisions before the latest vote.

Considered by some as potentially the most substantial social policy change in Britain since the partial legalization of abortion in 1967, the bill addresses a deeply divisive issue within Parliament and across the nation.

What the Bill Proposes

The core of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is to grant mentally competent adults aged 18 and over, diagnosed with a terminal illness and given a prognosis of six months or less to live, the legal right to seek assistance to end their lives.

A critical requirement under the bill is that the individual must be capable of self-administering the fatal drugs. This distinguishes the proposed legislation from euthanasia, where a healthcare practitioner administers the substance.

Safeguards and the Approval Process

Following months of scrutiny and debate, significant changes were made to the bill’s proposed safeguards. An earlier requirement for judicial approval for each case was removed. The revised bill introduces a multi-layered approval process:

A request for assisted dying must be approved by two independent doctors.
The request also requires approval from a panel that includes a social worker, a senior legal figure, and a psychiatrist.

Proponents argue these revised safeguards are robust and thorough protections against coercion, while some opponents expressed concern that the removal of judicial oversight weakened the bill’s protections. Further amendments were incorporated to enhance safeguards for vulnerable individuals, including provisions for independent advocates for those with learning disabilities, autism, or mental health conditions, and the creation of a disability advisory board.

Additionally, the bill includes a conscience clause, ensuring that no person, including doctors, social care workers, and pharmacists, will be compelled to participate in assisting someone’s death if it goes against their beliefs.

The Intense Debate: Dignity vs. Vulnerability

The debate surrounding assisted dying is highly emotional and reflects deep divisions. Lawmakers engaged in hours of impassioned discussion, sharing personal stories and weighing complex ethical considerations.

Supporters of the bill champion it as a matter of dignity, compassion, and personal choice for terminally ill individuals facing unbearable suffering. They argue it allows people to avoid prolonged agony and choose the timing and manner of their death. Supporters also highlight the inequality of the current law, which effectively allows wealthy individuals to travel abroad (like to Switzerland, where hundreds of Britons have sought assisted dying) while others must endure suffering or risk prosecution for seeking help domestically.

Conversely, opponents voice serious concerns about the potential for abuse, manipulation, and coercion, particularly for vulnerable individuals such as the elderly or disabled. They fear that pressures – potentially stemming from a desire to avoid being a financial or emotional burden – could lead people to feel compelled to end their lives. Opponents also raise concerns about the impact on the National Health Service (NHS), with some cautioning against it becoming perceived as a “National Suicide Service.”

Interestingly, there is common ground: both proponents and opponents generally agree on the crucial need for significant improvements and increased investment in palliative care and hospice services to better manage suffering for those with terminal illnesses.

Next Steps: The House of Lords

With approval from the elected House of Commons, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill now proceeds to the unelected second chamber of Parliament, the House of Lords.

While the Lords have the power to scrutinize, debate, and propose amendments to legislation over several months, they are generally reluctant to block bills that have received approval from the elected Commons. Therefore, while further changes are possible, the bill’s passage through the Commons represents a major step towards potentially becoming law.

If the bill successfully navigates the House of Lords and receives Royal Assent, estimates suggest full implementation of the new law could take approximately four years, potentially coming into effect by 2029.

Britain Joins Global Discussion

Should the bill become law, the UK would join a growing number of jurisdictions internationally where assisted dying is permitted, including:

Canada
New Zealand
Australia (various states)
Belgium
Austria
Switzerland

Several states in the United States, plus the District of Columbia.

The issue of assisted dying transcends traditional party lines, with the recent vote held as a “free vote,” allowing MPs to vote according to their conscience rather than party mandates. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has supported the bill, while members of his own cabinet, such as Health Secretary Wes Streeting, have opposed it, highlighting the diverse views even within political parties.

Outside Parliament, the emotional nature of the debate was mirrored by protests from hundreds of campaigners on both sides, with supporters celebrating the vote as a step towards greater choice and opponents vowing to continue their fight against the proposed law. Public opinion polls in Britain have consistently indicated majority support for assisted dying in principle for terminally ill individuals.