Landmark vote on assisted dying set to test UK lawmakers

British lawmakers will decide on Friday whether to support a proposed law on assisted dying, in a highly emotional and divisive vote.

The bill seeks to grant mentally competent adults in England and Wales who are terminally ill, with six months or less to live, the right to end their lives with medical assistance.

This is the first attempt to amend the law in a decade and has sparked intense national debate, with opinions from former prime ministers, religious leaders, healthcare professionals, judges, and members of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government.

If passed, the legislation would represent one of Britain’s most significant social reforms in decades, aligning it with countries such as Australia, Canada, and certain US states.

Public opinion appears largely in favour, with polls showing widespread support for assisted dying, reflecting a desire to give terminally ill individuals more control over their final months.

London resident Anne Ransome, 71, expressed conditional support, emphasising the importance of safeguards to ensure decisions are voluntary and free from coercion.

However, the bill faces uncertain prospects in parliament. Some lawmakers are hesitant, citing the need for more detailed scrutiny of legal and financial implications. Concerns about potential coercion of vulnerable individuals are central to the opposition.

Under the proposed law, two doctors and a High Court judge would need to verify that the decision to seek assisted dying was made voluntarily. Coercion would carry a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Lawmakers are allowed a free vote, rather than following party lines, leading to divisions within the Labour Party.

While some members, including Starmer, have expressed past support for assisted dying, others, including health and justice ministers, oppose the measure. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the bill, argued that the law should reflect public sentiment, stating, "Dying people are having horrible deaths, and we have a duty to give them the choice."

If the bill is approved, it will advance to the next stage of the legislative process, with further votes expected in 2025. However, the outcome remains uncertain, as opponents could delay proceedings by "talking out" the bill to prevent a final vote.

Critics argue the process has been rushed, with questions raised by the judiciary and healthcare professionals regarding the practicalities of implementing such a law, including communication between judges and individuals seeking assisted dying.

Campaigners like Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing, oppose the bill, warning that safeguards in other jurisdictions have eroded over time. Others advocate for improving palliative care as a priority.

If passed, the legislation would join a tradition of transformative private members’ bills, such as those abolishing the death penalty, legalising abortion, and decriminalising homosexuality in the 1960s. Meanwhile, Scotland is also considering separate legislation on assisted dying.