British lawmakers have approved a law that allows terminally ill people to end their lives

Supporters of the Not Dead Yet campaign, which opposes the Assisted Dying Bill, react outside the Houses of Parliament to the news that the bill has passed its first stage on November 29, 2024, in London, England. | Photo credit: Getty Images

British lawmakers on Friday (November 29, 2024) gave preliminary approval to a bill to help terminally ill adults end their lives in England and Wales after passionate debate during which people shared personal stories of loss and suffering.

Members of Parliament approved the assisted dying bill by a majority of 330 to 275 votes, meaning it essentially approved the bill, which will undergo further scrutiny before a final vote.

Friday’s vote took place after many hours of debate – sometimes emotional – that touched on issues of ethics, faith and law. There was none of the roaring and shouting that often accompanies debates in the House of Commons, and speeches were considered with respect and listened to in silence.

“Let’s be clear, we’re not talking about a choice between life and death, we’re talking about giving dying people a choice about how to die,” said the bill’s lead sponsor, Kim Leadbeater, as she introduced the bill to a packed chamber.

Supporters say the law will provide dignity for the dying and prevent suffering while protecting the vulnerable.

Opponents argued that disabled and elderly people were at risk of being directly or indirectly forced to take their lives in order to save money or ease the burden on family members. Others called for improved palliative care to alleviate suffering as an alternative.

The proposed bill would allow adults over the age of 18 who are expected to have less than six months to live to request and receive end-of-life assistance, provided they meet several safeguards.

They would have to be able to take lethal drugs on their own, and any decision would have to be signed by two independent doctors and a Supreme Court judge. The Act will not apply to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Arguments for and against

Supporters of the bill told heartbreaking stories of constituents and family members who suffered in the final months of their lives, and of dying people who committed suicide in secret, because it is now a crime for anyone to provide assistance.

Danny Kruger, who argued against the bill, warned lawmakers not to support a “national suicide service.” He argued that no amount of safeguards would stop many vulnerable people from feeling pressure to make an end-of-life application.

Kruger expressed disappointment with the outcome, but said there was a risk that lawmakers would reject the bill when it came to a vote in the next few months. Some of those who voted in favor of the resolution said they did so only to examine the details more closely and might vote against it in the future.

“I still think we can stop it,” he said.

Beyond political divisions

Although the bill was proposed by Ms Leadbeater, a member of the ruling centre-left Labor Party, it was a public vote in which alliances were formed across political divides.

The government is widely expected to present an assessment in the next few months of how aid in dying is funded and what impact this will have on the UK’s state-funded National Health Service, hospice care and the legal system.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer did not show his hand before the vote, but supported the change. Other members of his cabinet, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Minister Shabana Mahmood, voted against it. Similar divisions existed in other political parties.

Long-time British campaigner Esther Rantzen, who has terminal lung cancer and has played a leading role in advocating for a vote on assisted dying, expressed delight at the “wonderful” result and said it would give people an “equal choice”.

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

Hundreds of people representing both sides of the issue gathered outside Parliament on a cold but bright day as the debate lasted almost five hours.

Opponents held signs saying: “Kill the bill, not the sick” and referring to the National Health Service: “NHS It’s from the cradle to the grave. Not until it’s old, uncomfortable and expensive!”

Dignity in Dying, many of them wearing pink winter hats, led the crowd, clutching signs that read “Give me a choice over my death” and “You can’t cure death.” Please make it free from fear.”

After the result was announced, supporters erupted in cheers and hugged each other.

“It’s a relief, it’s history. We are finally moving towards a society that shows love and compassion beyond the need to keep people alive,” said Joshua Cook, 33, who suffers from the incurable neurodegenerative disease Huntington’s disease.

Other countries that have legalized assisted suicide include Australia, Belgium, Canada and parts of the United States, with laws regarding who is eligible vary by jurisdiction.

Assisted suicide differs from euthanasia, permitted in the Netherlands and Canada, which involves a healthcare professional administering a lethal injection at the patient’s request under certain circumstances.