British lawmakers voted in favor of advancing a bill that would grant terminally ill patients in England and Wales the option of assisted dying. The bill, which passed in the House of Commons by a vote of 330 to 275, will now undergo further debate and scrutiny in parliamentary committees before returning for another vote. The government has not publicly supported the legislation, and assisted suicide is currently illegal in the UK. The issue was brought to the forefront by broadcaster Esther Rantzen, and each year, some UK citizens travel to Switzerland for assisted dying. The proposed bill aims to provide a safer and more compassionate law, but critics argue that detecting coercion in such cases may be challenging.
Full Article
