Overview

• The bill passed its second reading with a 314–291 vote in the House of Commons following months of parliamentary debate.
• Adults diagnosed with a terminal illness and given six months or less to live would be allowed to request medical assistance to end their lives if they self-administer the prescribed medication.
• Opponents caution that reliance on underfunded palliative care—currently covered by only about one-third of state support—could leave vulnerable patients feeling coerced.
• A YouGov poll indicates that approximately 73 percent of Britons back the measure, underscoring strong public support for legalizing assisted dying.
• The draft UK law diverges from Germany’s approach, where active euthanasia is illegal but assisted suicide is permitted under defined conditions.