Lawmakers in the United Kingdom on Friday voted down legislation to allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to choose to end their lives. Source: Crux.
Following an impassioned four-hour debate in the elected House of Commons, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was rejected 286 to 270. The outcome was somewhat surprising given that an almost identical bill had passed last year with a margin of 23 votes.
The vote brings an end to a two-year debate in Parliament about assisted dying, during which the House of Commons had backed assisted dying on two previous occasions.
Their backing wasn’t enough for it to become law because it was effectively filibustered by unelected lawmakers in the House of Lords.
Back in the House of Commons on Friday, the bill had proposed allowing adults in England and Wales who have fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death subject to the approval of two doctors and an expert panel.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham didn’t vote because he said he didn’t want to “unduly influence the debate”.
Opponents branded the bill unsafe and unworkable, citing concerns around potential coercion of vulnerable people and a lack of safeguards for those with disabilities.
The leader of Catholics in England and Wales, Archbishop Richard Moth, called the bill “wrong in principle” and “deeply flawed”. The Church of England’s Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, also objected to the bill.
Medical colleges, including the Royal College of Psychiatrists, had raised “serious concerns” about the bill, saying there were “too many unanswered questions about the safeguarding of people with mental illness.”
Proponents of assisted suicide had hoped it would mark the biggest change to social policy in the UK since abortion was partially legalised in 1967.
Liverpool Archbishop John Sherrington, lead bishop for life issues of the Catholic bishops of England and Wales, thanked everyone who wrote to their MP to stop the bill or assisted the campaign against it in other ways.
“Throughout this debate, we have argued that our response to those facing serious illness, disability or the challenges of old age should be rooted in solidarity, care and respect,” Archbishop Sherrington said.
“The true measure of a compassionate society is its willingness to support people through difficult circumstances rather than encouraging them to end their lives.”
FULL STORY
British parliament rejects bill seeking to legalize assisted suicide (AP via Crux)
Archbishop ‘thankful’ as House of Commons votes against assisted suicide (By Ruth Gledhill, The Tablet)
