UK Parliament in Close Vote Today on Assisted Dying Bill for Terminally Ill

Nov 29, 2024, 06:13 AM

British lawmakers are set to vote on Friday on landmark legislation that would legalize assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales. The proposed bill would allow individuals diagnosed with less than six months to live to seek medical assistance to end their lives. Surveys indicate 264 MPs are in favor and 215 against, with many undecided, making the outcome uncertain. The debate, starting at 10am, has attracted significant attention, with over 160 MPs wishing to speak. The prime minister has granted MPs a free vote on the issue, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting plans to strengthen the bill with amendments if it passes. If approved, this would mark a significant shift in UK law, which treated attempted suicide as a crime until 1961.