The British representatives They approved this Friday, with 314 votes against and 291 against, a historical bill for Legalized assisted death for some patients in the terminal phase.
The text, which had already had a favorable mood of the British representatives last November, in a first reading, must now be investigated by the House of Lords for his entry into force.
The first proposal, supported by the Chamber of the Commons on November 30, was supported with 330 votes in favor and 275 against, before being investigated in committee, to be again subject to the approval of the two parliament cameras.
The supporters of the text, who had met for parliament with banners who said “My death, my decision” (My death, my decision) Loudly expressed their joy when the result was announced.
“This vote sends a clear message (…) The change is underway “The director of the Dignity in Dying Association responded (Dignity in Dying), Sarah Wootton.
Instead, the group director Don’t make sure to kill (Beware, not killing), Gordon Macdonald, opponent of the text, denounced an “deep imperfect and dangerous” text.
Ten years later approved
The British representatives approved this time, after another proposal on assisted death was rejected by the Lower House in 2015.
The approved text would now Assisted suicide for patients in England and Wales That they are In the terminal phase, with no more than six months of life expectancyAnd that they are able to take the substance for themselves that causes their death.
After the first mood of November, the representatives made several Remarkable changes to the first project.
In addition to two doctors, the The final decision to allow the help to die will be in the hands of an expert committee, And it will not be the competence of a judge of the Superior Court of Justice, a change that is criticized by the opponents.
The Health workers (Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and employees in the sector) also They will have the right to refuse To participate in assisted suicide.
Finally, independent experts will be proposed to support people who suffer from psychological problems, as well as advice on a disability, responsible for advising the government on the implementation of the law and its impact on people with disabilities.
The British, to the advantage
According to a survey on Thursday published by the Institute Yougov” 73 % of the British supports the text as written.
Kim Leadbeater, Deputy of the majority of work and the promoter of this bill, she told the AFP that the text is important to accompany people “confronted with the perspective of a painful and unworthy death, for himself or for a loved one.”
“The injustice and inhumanity of the status quo prevent us waiting for more time to offer them hope for a better death,” he added.
For parliament, Milly BlenkinShop-Ferench, 81-year-old retired, whose son died of cancer “with terrible pain”, I expected before the mood that the text was approved.
“If the assisted suicide had been legal, he would have had the choice,” he explains, because the law “gives the option, when the pain is too intense (…) to say ‘enough’.”
Ramana Kumar37 -you -cold -researcher opposes the law. “It can be poorly applied and diverted to bring people who don’t want to die,” he said AFP.
The parties have not given voice instructions to their members, although the Labor Prime Minister, Keir Starmer announced that he would vote.
After investigating the text of the Lores house, We will have to wait four years before the assisted suicide is implemented.
On March 26, the Representatives of the island of humans have approved a law that allows assisted suicide For people with terminal diseases, becoming the first territory of the United Kingdom to legalize the help to die.
At the moment, Assisted suicide is illegal in England, Wales and Noord -Irland And it brings a fine of 14 years in prison for complicity or incentive.
In ScotlandThat has delegated in health, It is not typed as a crimeBut a person who helps someone to die can be processed by voluntary murder.
