MPs have voted to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales after their final debate on the change in the law. After months of deliberation and scrutiny, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was backed by 314 votes to 291, a majority of 23. MPs were given a free vote on the issue, meaning parties did not instruct them what to choose. The third reading of the bill was the last opportunity for MPs to approve or reject it. The majority in favour has more than halved since MPs first backed proposals to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. InNovember they supported it by 330 to 275, a majority of 55. Prior to that, it had been almost a decade since the House of Commons had voted on the issue, deciding in 2015 to reject the "right to die" law. The bill now passes to the House of Lords for further scrutiny. TheTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Billwas introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. It proposed letting terminally ill people end their life if they: The bill has since been amended following the committee and report stages, where it was scrutinised line by line by MPs. Some key changes included dropping the requirement for a High Court judge to approve assisted dying applications, replacing it with a three-person panel featuring a senior legal figure, psychiatrist and social worker. Other changes explicitly prevent doctors from discussing assisted dying without other options, such as palliative care, psychological support or symptom management. The amended bill also says independent advocates should be provided for people who have learning disabilities, autism or mental health conditions. A separate bill on assisted dyingis being considered in Scotlandand passed an initial vote at Holyrood in May 2025 but is subject to further debate and changes before a final decision. In March, theIsle of Manwas the first part of the British Isles to approve assisted dying. While it remains illegal in most countries, more than 300 million people now live in countries which have legalised assisted dying. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Austria have all introduced assisted dying laws since 2015.
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"MPs Approve Assisted Dying Bill in England and Wales Following Final Debate"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Members of Parliament (MPs) in England and Wales have voted to legalize assisted dying, marking a significant shift in legislative attitudes towards end-of-life choices. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill received support from 314 MPs, surpassing the 291 votes against it, resulting in a majority of 23 votes in favor of the bill. In this instance, MPs were permitted a free vote, meaning they could decide based on personal beliefs rather than party lines. This recent vote reflects a notable decrease in support compared to November 2022, when the bill had a majority of 55 votes in favor. The last time the House of Commons addressed assisted dying was in 2015, when a similar proposal was rejected. The bill will now be reviewed by the House of Lords before it can become law, indicating that further discussions and potential amendments may still occur.
The proposed legislation, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, allows terminally ill individuals to end their lives under certain conditions. Significant amendments were made during the bill's committee and report stages, which included the removal of the requirement for a High Court judge's approval for assisted dying applications. Instead, a panel composed of a senior legal figure, a psychiatrist, and a social worker will review such requests. Additionally, the amended bill mandates that healthcare providers must discuss all available options, including palliative care and psychological support, before addressing assisted dying. It also stipulates that independent advocates should be available for individuals with learning disabilities, autism, or mental health issues. In related developments, Scotland is considering its own legislation on assisted dying, while jurisdictions like the Isle of Man and several countries, including Canada and Australia, have already enacted similar laws, reflecting a growing global trend towards legalizing assisted dying for terminally ill patients.
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