UK: Historic Assisted Dying Bill Rejected by House of Commons for Second Time

London,
Britain’s House of Commons has once again rejected a landmark bill that would have legalised assisted dying. In Friday’s vote, 270 MPs voted in favour while 286 voted against, defeating the bill by a majority of 16 votes.
This marked the second attempt by lawmakers to change the law. A similar bill passed the Commons last year but failed to become law after running out of parliamentary time in the House of Lords.
The bill sought to give terminally ill adults with less than six months to live the legal right to seek medical assistance to end their lives. It included safeguards such as certification by two independent doctors, approval from a High Court judge, and a mandatory waiting period, with the final act required to be carried out by the patient themselves.
Supporters called it a matter of dignity and choice for those facing unbearable suffering, while opponents raised concerns about pressure on vulnerable people and the sanctity of life. Hundreds of protesters from both sides gathered outside Parliament during the five-hour debate. Campaign group “Dignity in Dying” called the result devastating, while “Care Not Killing” welcomed it as a decision to protect the vulnerable. The government said it has no plans to introduce its own legislation on the matter, meaning any future attempt would have to come through a private member’s bill.