Lawmakers in the UK have voted in favor of a bill that would allow terminally ill adults to seek help to end their lives. The bill, if passed, would follow similar laws in countries like Canada and Australia, and certain US states. The bill would require mentally competent adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to request assistance to end their lives. Currently, assisted suicide is illegal in Britain, but the bill would change that. The debate around the bill has stirred strong emotions from politicians, religious leaders, doctors, and others, as it touches on the fundamental issue of life and death.
Supporters of the bill argue that it would alleviate the unnecessary suffering of terminally ill individuals and provide them with dignity and agency. On the other hand, opponents fear a slippery slope that could put vulnerable populations at risk. The bill has provisions for strict safeguards, with two independent doctors and a judge required to sign off on a patient’s decision to end their life. The bill has broad public support, with 73% of the British public backing it, according to a recent poll.
Former Prime Minister David Cameron recently reversed his opposition to the bill, citing the exclusions focused on mental health and disability, as well as the safeguards included in the legislation. The bill has received opposition from other former prime ministers, including Gordon Brown, and current leaders like Keir Starmer, who has not disclosed his position yet. The bill has the potential to be a significant social reform in the UK.
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