The British House of Commons has voted against legalizing assisted dying in England and Wales, defeating the bill by a narrow margin of just 16 votes. The proposal received 270 votes in favor and 286 against.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill provided that adults with a life expectancy of less than six months could request assistance in ending their lives, if they met a number of conditions.
The vote came after a long and emotional debate in Parliament, where MPs presented their arguments for and against one of the most controversial social issues in Britain.
The bill, introduced by Labour MP Lauren Edwards, will not proceed further in the parliamentary process. However, the issue could be brought back for discussion in a future session.
Under the proposal, people seeking assisted dying would be subject to a series of checks and safeguards, including approval by two doctors and a panel of experts.
Supporters argued that terminally ill people should have the right to choose how their lives end. MPs were allowed a free vote, without being forced to follow the position of their respective parties.
The vote also caused reactions outside Parliament, where supporters and opponents of assisted dying gathered in Parliament Square awaiting the result.
Among those expressing disappointment was campaigner and founder of Childline, Esther Rantzen, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She said she was sad that people with terminal illnesses in England and Wales would not have the choice offered in some other countries.
Rantzen has previously stated that her physical condition is now too fragile to travel to Switzerland, where assisted dying is permitted under certain circumstances.
Despite the defeat of the bill, the political and social debate on assisted dying is expected to continue, while a similar initiative may return to Parliament in the future.
