The British Parliament has rejected a bill that would have allowed terminally ill patients to be killed by assisted suicide, or euthanasia, rather than live out their final days. There had been efforts to bring the controversial practice to the UK but it was defeated in a 286 to 270 vote.
There are several American states that allow the practice as well as nations such as Canada, but the UK has staved off efforts to bring the practice to their shores after rejecting the Terminally Ill Adults bill. A fatal injection administered by the individual to themselves would have been the method of death.
Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, France, Switzerland, and Spain all allow it as do the US states Oregon, California, New York, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, Washington, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. It's framed as "dignity" in dying in many cases.
The House of Commons had approved the measure last year with a 314 to 291 vote but despite the fresh rejection, proponents of the bill have vowed to try again. The sponsor of the bill, Lauren Edwards said "Parliament has dropped the ball today. It will be picked up again as it must be, because the law as it stands is simply too cruel and too unjust to be allowed to stand."
In Canada, where Medical Assistance in Dying has become part of the landscape, government assisted suicide is a leading cause of death. And it's growing. While the law was originally intended to help those with painful terminal diseases, it has also been used to extinguish the lives of those with mental illness who are otherwise suicidal. It has been offered to veterans. There have been efforts to allow government assisted suicide to minors, as well, or to babies born with difficult conditions.
The UK bill similarly starts with a limited provision, just for those who are terminally ill who have a prognosis of just 6 months to live. Supporters of the bill argue that it is a bodily autonomy concern and that people who are ill shouldn't have to suffer from wha the Washington Post calls "intolerable pain and despair."
Others say the bill could end up being expanded to encompass those with less life-ending conditions or that offering death over treatment could become a way to ease costs in an over-burdened public health system. Suicide is a leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK and many say what's really needed is suicide prevention, not support for suicide.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is less supportive of the plan than his predecessor. He advocates for more access to health services for palliative end of life care rather than just offering the ill a shot to slough them off this mortal coil.
