British lawmakers are voting on whether to advance controversial legislation authorising assisted dying for terminally ill people in England and Wales.
Parliament last debated and rejected a euthanasia bill in 2015, but public support has since shifted in favour of allowing terminally ill people to end their own lives. Supporters argue that allowing euthanasia would make some deaths more dignified and less painful.
However, religious leaders signed a joint letter in which some 30 clergy said they were “deeply concerned” by the plans. Critics argue that some people may feel the need to take their own lives, but the health system is not ready for such a landmark change.
The bill would authorise assisted suicide in England and Wales for adults with a terminal illness whose life expectancy is less than six months and who can self-administer a substance that causes their death. Any patient’s wish to die must be signed by a judge and two doctors.
The legislation follows an election promise by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to allow Parliament to reconsider the issue. However, he told cabinet ministers that they “should not take part in the public debate,” as the government remains neutral on the bill.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister David Cameron, who opposed the 2015 law change, said he had changed his mind on the issue.
As campaigners have convincingly argued, this proposal is not about ending life. It is about shortening death.
Assisted dying is currently illegal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and carries a maximum prison sentence of up to 14 years. In Scotland, which has a separate legal system, it is not a specific criminal offence but can make a person vulnerable to other charges, including murder.
