June 20, 2025, was a landmark day in the UK Parliament as 291 MPs voted out of 314 for the passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill into law, essentially providing a legal framework for assisted dying in England and Wales. The bill will now be taken to the House of Lords, triggering fierce ethical, medical, and legal debate throughout the country.
/*Commons Vote and Safeguards Update*/
With Labour MP Kim Leadbeater's support, the bill was given its third reading in a slim 23-vote majority. It permits adults who are suffering from a terminal illness with a prognosis of less than six months to request for a medical to end their life on condition that it is signed by two doctors and a multidisciplinary panel (lawyer, psychiatrist, social worker). A 14-day waiting period and opt-out for health professionals are significant safeguards.
/*Opposition and Disability Concerns*/
Opponents like Care Not Killing, Right to Life UK, and disability-rights groups are concerned that the protections are not robust enough and could expose vulnerable patients to coercion. Administration of assisted dying for mental illness or loss of capacity was also a concern. Having a panel instead of a High Court judge issuing authorizations, while speeding up access, added controversy to legal oversight.
/*Stage After That: House of Lords Scrutiny*/
The bill goes to the House of Lords, where peers led by Lord Charlie Falconer will scrutinize amendments. Unlikely to be filibustered, though, its foes vow to use procedural tactics to drag it out. If passed, the government has up to four years to put the framework in place, potentially hearing its first cases in 2029.
/* Public Reaction and International Context*/
Public opinion surveys show 73% support for assisted dying towards the end of life. Humanists UK and Dignity in Dying campaigners described the vote as a humanitarian milestone. Globally, the UK follows Canada, Australia, and Belgium in having such laws.