British lawmakers gave initial approval on Friday to a bill to help terminally ill adults end their lives in England and Wales, following an impassioned debate that saw people sharing personal stories of loss and suffering.
Members of Parliament approved the assisted dying bill by a 330 to 275 vote, signaling their approval in principle for the bill, which would undergo further scrutiny before it goes to a final vote.
Friday’s vote came after hours of debate — emotional at times — that touched on issues of ethics, faith and law. There was no braying and shouting that often marks debates in the House of Commons and speeches were considered respectfully and heard in silence.
Photo: AFP
“Let’s be clear, we’re not talking about a choice between life or death, we are talking about giving dying people a choice about how to die,” said Kim Leadbeater, the bill’s main sponsor.
Supporters said the law would provide dignity to the dying and prevent suffering, while protecting the vulnerable.
Opponents said disabled and elderly people were at risk of being coerced, directly or indirectly, to end their lives to save money or relieve the burden on family members. Others called for the improvement of palliative care to ease suffering as an alternative.
The proposed bill would allow adults aged 18 and older who are expected to have fewer than six months to live to request and be provided help to end their life, subject to several safeguards.
They would have to be capable of taking the fatal drugs themselves, and two independent doctors and a High Court judge would have to sign off on any decision.
Backers of the bill told heart-wrenching stories about constituents and family members who experienced suffering in the final months of their lives and dying people who committed suicide in secret because it is currently a crime for anyone to provide assistance.
Danny Kruger, who led the argument against the bill, cautioned lawmakers not to back a “state suicide service.” He said that no amount of safeguards would stop many vulnerable people feeling the pressure to make a request to end their lives.
Other countries that have legalized assisted suicide include Australia, Belgium, Canada and parts of the US.
Assisted suicide is different from euthanasia, allowed in the Netherlands and Canada, which involves health care practitioners administering a lethal injection at the patient’s request in specific circumstances.
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