UK Parliament Approves Assisted Dying Bill
The House of Commons approved a bill legalizing assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales by a vote of 314 to 291. The bill, which requires individuals to be over 18 and mentally capable of making the choice, now proceeds to the House of Lords for further review before potentially receiving royal assent. While the bill passed, significant debate surrounded its implementation details, including the composition of an “expert panel” replacing a previous High Court judge requirement. Even with passage, the legislation’s full enactment is not expected for at least four years.
John Q. Hosedrinker