British MPs approved today in the first reading in a historic vote the legalization of assisted dying for certain patients in the terminal phase of the disease.
The bill, which has mobilized lawmakers across traditional political divides, will have to go through several stages in parliament before final adoption.
However, nine years after the House of Commons rejected the previous text, this time with 330 votes in favor (275 against), the MPs aligned themselves with the increasing support of the British population for the legalization of assisted suicide, after almost five hours of discussion.
Labor MP Kim Leadbitter, who sponsored the bill, said before the vote that her text, which affects England and Wales, would give "choice, autonomy and dignity" to terminally ill adults who have six months or less to live. .
She pointed out that it would be guided by "very strict criteria".
According to the text, patients must be able to express their choice and take the substance that will cause death themselves. Two doctors and a judge will have to give their consent.
Prime Minister Kir Starmer, who has not spoken on the subject until now, voted for the text, as he did in the previous vote in 2015.
According to a recent JuGov poll (YouGov), three quarters of people in England and Wales support changing the law.
Dozens of supporters and opponents of the text gathered today in front of the parliament.
Currently, assisted dying is illegal in the UK and carries a 14-year prison sentence for aiding or abetting.
The current law "is not clear and does not protect patients, families and health care workers, which pushes people to take desperate action," Kim Lidbiter said during a discussion that raised questions of ethics, funding and faith.
Instead of assisted dying, many opponents are calling for better funding for palliative care as the public health system goes through a deep crisis.
Kim Lidbiter said the bill contains "the strongest safeguards and protections in the world" and has "no relation" to laws in Canada or Belgium, countries where the criteria are much broader.
The text must now be scrutinized by a parliamentary committee, before being re-submitted for approval by both houses of the UK parliament.
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