Lawmakers in the United Kingdom took a major step towards permitting the euphemistically named “assisted dying,” also known as state-sanctioned suicide or euthanasia, for terminally ill patients in England and Wales. The proposal passed in the House of Commons with a vote tally of 330 in favor and 275 against after extensive deliberations lasting five hours.
The proposed legislation has been the topic of much public debate in the UK and allows doctors to aid patients who are over the age of 18, diagnosed with a terminal illness, and estimated to have six months or less to live in ending their own lives. The decision would require approval from two doctors as well as a judge, with patients required to self-administer the drugs.
The bill will now undergo more scrutiny in parliamentary committees where further amendments may arise. Even advocates of the measure admit it parallels other major social changes in the UK’s history, such as the legalization of abortion in 1967 and the abolition of the death penalty in 1969.
This development places the UK alongside several other jurisdictions where state-sanctioned suicide is already recognized. These include several European nations, Canada, New Zealand, and certain parts of the United States, including 10 states and Washington, D.C.
I voted against the assisted dying bill, not out of a lack of compassion but because I fear that the law will widen in scope. If that happens, the right to die may become the obligation to die.
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) November 29, 2024
One major opponent of the legislation is Reform UK Party leader Nigel Farage, who tweeted on Friday: “I voted against the assisted dying bill, not out of a lack of compassion but because I fear that the law will widen in scope. If that happens, the right to die may become the obligation to die.”
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