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U.K. Lawmakers Reject Legislation to Allow Terminally Ill Adults to Choose Assisted Death

U.K. lawmakers voted down the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would have allowed adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live to choose an assisted death. The House of Commons rejected the bill with a vote of 286 to 270 following a four-hour debate. This decision ends a two-year parliamentary debate. The bill was previously backed by the House of Commons but was blocked by the House of Lords. The government took a neutral stance, allowing lawmakers to vote according to their consciences. Prime Minister Andy Burnham did not vote to avoid unduly influencing the debate. Opponents argued the bill was unsafe and lacked sufficient safeguards for vulnerable people and those with disabilities. Medical colleges expressed concerns regarding the safeguarding of people with mental illness. Dr. Zubir Ahmed, a cancer surgeon, noted that doctors may often be wrong when predicting a six-month life expectancy. Lauren Edwards, who reintroduced the bill, called the rejection heartbreaking but expressed hope for future approval. The bill aimed to provide a domestic option for those currently traveling to countries like Switzerland for assisted dying.

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