Assisted dying bill supporters celebrate in London
STORY: :: Assisted dying supporters celebrate as British lawmakers give initial support to a legalisation bill
:: London, England
:: November 29, 2024
:: Hilary Hare Duke, Retired probation officer
“It’s a marvelous day, a marvelous day.// I do absolutely respect the people, who were opposed to it, and their heart felt reasons for why they were opposed. But this was always about choice.”
:: Liz Reed, Protester
“Day to day it won’t impact my life. Hopefully not for a long time. But I look around at the people here and the experiences that they’ve had with their loved ones, and it will make those experiences feel even in some tiny way that they were something, that something good came out of something that was really terrible.”
:: Valerie Plumb, Priest
“It’s one of total and utter relief. Relief that there are so many people out there that have a hope that they may not have to suffer the way that so many loved ones have suffered in the past. This can only be a positive result. It feels to me like finally Parliament has listened to the will of the people and I’m delighted.”
The vote opens the way for months of further debate over an issue that has sparked a national conversation over dignity in death and end-of-life care.
In an initial approval of the bill, 330 lawmakers voted in favor with 275 against the “Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life)” bill, which would provide for mentally competent, terminally ill adults in England and Wales who are assessed by doctors to have six months or less left to live the right to choose to end their lives with medical help.
It is a historic step towards a change in the law which could see Britain follow other countries such as Australia, Canada and some U.S. states in launching what would be one of its biggest social reforms in a generation.
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