MPs vote to back Assisted Dying Bill by 23 votes

MPs have voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by just 23 votes, which could legalise assisted dying in England and Wales.

The Bill would allow terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to get medical assistance to end their own lives.

All MPs had been given a free vote, meaning they did not have to vote with their party and could instead vote with their conscience. The first vote in November passed with a majority of 55.

It will now be passed to the House of Lords for the same level of scrutiny before MPs get a final say on any changes.

Two amendments that would have offered more protection to disabled people were rejected. Conservative MP Rebecca Paul’s new clause 16 stated that a wish to end one’s own life should not be substantially motivated by factors such as a mental disorder, disability or suicidal ideation. The Commons voted 208 to 261, majority 53 against.

MPs also voted to disapply the presumption that a person has capacity unless the opposite is established in cases of assisted dying requests, tabled by Labour MP Daniel Francis. The Commons voted 213 to 266, majority 53 against.

Opposition to Assisted Dying Bill

In February, the National Down Syndrome Policy Group (NDSPGO) and over 61 organisations representing the interests of disabled people across the UK wrote an open letter raising concerns about the potential impact of legalising assisted dying.

Last week, the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) called on MPs to consider serious concerns about the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill for England and Wales, ahead of the pivotal Commons Report stage debate and Third Reading.  

With too many unanswered questions about the safeguarding of people with mental illness, the College has concluded that it cannot support the Bill in its current form.

It said that the Mental Capacity Act does not provide a framework for assessing decisions about ending one’s own life. It added that people with intellectual disabilities (learning disabilities) are more vulnerable to coercion and can find it difficult to fully understand the concept of death.

Separating physical and mental health conditions for this population requires considerable expertise, skills and time. Any assessment in this context would need to be carried out by those trained in this field, but we do not currently have enough consultant psychiatrists to do this.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer voted in favour of the Bill, whereas Conservative Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch voted against.

Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said: “Today’s vote is a landmark moment for choice, compassion and dignity at the end of life. MPs have listened to dying people, to bereaved families and to the public, and have voted decisively for the reform that our country needs and deserves.

“This vote will go down in history as the moment Parliament finally caught up with the public. The momentum behind change is now unstoppable; a credit to this people-powered movement for choice.”

Alison Bloomer

Alison Bloomer is Editor of Learning Disability Today.

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