Assisted Suicide to Become Law in the UK

UK lawmakers on Friday approved a bill to allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to choose to end their lives in a historic vote. Members of Parliament voted 314-291 to back the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill following an impassioned debate, per the AP. The measure backed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer is now on track to become law, reports the Guardian. It goes next to the unelected House of Lords, which can amend or delay policy, though it can't overrule the lower chamber.

• The bill allows terminally ill adults over age 18 in England and Wales, who are deemed to have less than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death. The terminally ill person would have to be capable of taking the fatal drugs themselves.
• Proponents of the bill say wealthy individuals can travel to Switzerland, which allows foreigners to legally end their lives, while others have to face possible prosecution for helping their loved ones die.
• Other countries that have legalized assisted suicide include Australia, Belgium, Canada, and parts of the United States, with regulations on who is eligible varying by jurisdiction.
• 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.

(If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988.) (More assisted suicide stories.)