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5d ago

Commons Backs Assisted Dying Bill in Narrow Vote

House of Lords scrutiny will test peers’ willingness to uphold the Commons’ narrow vote to permit assisted dying for terminally ill adults.

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Overview

  • The House of Commons approved the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at its third reading on June 20 by 314 votes to 291, securing a 23-vote majority.
  • Eligible adults in England and Wales with a prognosis of six months or less can apply for assisted death under the bill’s criteria, which require sign-off from two doctors and a multidisciplinary panel.
  • Opponents in the House of Lords, including Lord Frost and the Care Not Killing campaign, plan to propose amendments over concerns that removing High Court approval weakens safeguards.
  • Campaigners such as Dame Esther Rantzen and advocacy group Dignity in Dying celebrated the Commons vote and urged peers not to block the legislation.
  • Health Secretary Wes Streeting warned that setting up assisted dying services could cost the NHS about £425 million over ten years and risk diverting funds from palliative care.