Assisted dying set to become law in England and Wales after bill passed by MPs

Terminally ill people with less than six months to live will have right to choose procedure after approval from doctors and panel

Dame Esther Rantzen's daughter, Rebecca Wilcox, celebrates with a Dignity in Dying campaigner in Westminster, central London, after the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was passed in the House of Commons. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Terminally ill people in England and Wales are to be given the right to an assisted death in a historic societal shift that will transform end-of-life care.

After months of argument, MPs narrowly voted in favour of a private member’s bill introduced by Labour’s Kim Leadbeater, which could become law within four years.

Her bill, which passed by 314 to 291 votes, a majority of 23, was hailed by campaigners as “a day for the history books, where facts have prevailed over fear”.

The emotional debate in parliament was dominated by pleas from opponents of the bill for stricter safeguards against coercion by abusers, concern from disabled people and warnings about the fundamental change in the power of the state when granted new rights over life and death.

British prime minister Keir Starmer voted in favour of the bill, while MPs were given a free vote. 

It will head to the House of Lords and peers are not expected to block its progress, though opponents said they would continue to fight the bill there. Royal assent is widely expected by the end of the year.

It will give people with less than six months to live in England and Wales the right to an assisted death after approval from two doctors and a panel including a psychiatrist, social worker and senior lawyer.

— The Guardian