Assisted suicide bill shot down in the U.K.

U.K. lawmakers on Friday voted down legislation to allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to end their lives via assisted suicide.

After a four-hour debate in the House of Commons, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was rejected in a 286-270 vote. This outcome was unexpected by many, considering that an almost identical bill had passed in the House of Commons last year with a margin of 23 votes. For two years the House of Commons supported this legislation, but the House of Lords blocked it. Friday’s vote was indicative of a political shift in the House of Commons.

What was in the bill? The bill proposed allowing adults in England and Wales who have fewer than six months to live because of a terminal illness to apply for assisted suicide. The decision would have required the approval of two doctors and an expert panel.

What changed? The government did not officially support or oppose the bill. Instead, lawmakers from the governing party were free to vote for or against it based on their own personal views. The new U.K. leader, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, didn’t vote because he said he didn’t want to influence the debate.

Janet Daby, who had previously backed the bill, said she now opposed it because of an uneasy conscience. She said nightmares and dreams of death and dying prompted her to switch sides.

What did the opponents of the bill say? In the debate, opponents called the bill was unsafe and unworkable, citing concerns around potential coercion of vulnerable people and a lack of safeguards for those with mental disabilities.

Lawmaker and cancer surgeon Dr. Zubir Ahmed also said there is some uncertainty in giving a six-month prognosis. He admitted that he is wrong as often as he is right when making such predictions.

The Catholic Archbishop Richard Moth said the bill was wrong in principle and deeply flawed. The Church of England’s Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, also said she objected to the bill in an opinion piece published Wednesday in The Telegraph.

What did the proponents of the bill say? Lauren Edwards, who sponsored the bill, called the rejection heartbreaking and said the current law was unjust and cruel. She added that she wanted the U.K. to follow in the footsteps of other countries where assisted suicide is legal, including Australia, Belgium and Spain.