An Assisted Dying Bill, which would have allowed terminally ill adults in England and Wales with six months or less to live to seek medical assistance to end their lives, has been defeated in the Commons. The bill was rejected by 286 votes to 270.
Lauren Edwards, who sponsored the bill, expressed disappointment at its failure, noting the hope it had given to thousands of terminally ill people and their loved ones. She stated that objections raised were about parliamentary process rather than the principle of assisted dying.
Campaigners, including Esther Rantzen, reacted with sadness to the outcome. Ms Rantzen, who has terminal cancer, told the BBC that while she believes a change in the law will come, it will not be soon enough for many.
Among those who opposed the bill, Labour MPs Ashley Dalton, Meg Hillier, and Jess Asato issued a joint statement calling the bill "unsafe and unworkable". Ms Dalton, who is undergoing chemotherapy for incurable stage 4 breast cancer, spoke during the debate, highlighting concerns about the bill's lack of provision to support individuals immediately after a terminal diagnosis.
Supporters of the bill, such as Labour MP Claire Hazelgrove, shared personal experiences, with Ms Hazelgrove speaking about her mother's death from rare blood cancer and the limitations of palliative care. Zubir Ahmed, a transplant surgeon and MP, raised concerns about the readiness of the social and palliative care system.
Following the defeat, Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, urged both opponents and supporters of the bill to focus their efforts on addressing the hospice funding crisis to ensure access to end-of-life care.