The Euthanasia Debate in England: What Will the British Lords Do Now?

Euthanasia in the UK on the Brink: Bill’s Fate Hangs in Balance

The debate around the right to death on one’s own terms is gaining momentum in the UK. MPs from England and Wales backed a bill that would allow terminally ill individuals to end their lives under strictly defined conditions. Euthanasia in the UK is becoming a real prospect. Lawmakers cast 314 votes for the project and 291 against. Though the margin was narrow, it was sufficient for the bill to advance to the House of Lords.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater authored the proposal. The bill would permit adults with less than six months to live to independently end their lives with a doctor’s help. They must meet strict criteria, such as being registered with a doctor for at least one year, confirming their capacity to make decisions, and submitting a written request twice, approved by two independent doctors.

Under the new amendments, a three-person panel comprising a lawyer, a psychiatrist, and a social worker would make the decision, replacing a High Court judge. Additional safeguards were also introduced: a ban on advertising euthanasia in the UK services, a review of palliative care, and the option for healthcare professionals to refuse participation in the procedure.

For many, this symbolically opens a new phase. “Some people die in terrible pain, despite the best care,” emphasizes Kim Leadbeater. Sarah Wootton from the Dignity in Dying organization adds, “Every year, as many as 650 terminally ill people end their lives alone and in suffering. We need change.”

Read more: Trivializing of Euthanasia. Truly A Remedy for a Burning Planet?

The Debate Around a Dignified End

However, many dissenting voices exist. Disabled athlete Baroness Grey-Thompson fears that people with disabilities might feel pressure to end their lives. Actress Liz Carr warns that the law could be abused. Dr. Gordon Macdonald from the Care Not Killing organization believes that euthanasia in the UK distracts from serious problems within the palliative care system. Pam Duncan-Glancy, a Labour MP who uses a wheelchair, also expressed concern.

“It will be easier to get help to die than help to live,” she was quoted by the BBC as saying.

Euthanasia in the UK and Global Trends

The introduction of euthanasia laws is not exclusive to the United Kingdom. Euthanasia in the UK is part of a broader trend. In Switzerland, assisted suicide has been legal since 1942. Similar laws are in effect in Austria, Spain, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand, some US states, and Australia, as well as in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

France is also moving in this direction. In 2025, French MPs supported a bill that is expected to come into force by 2027.

Euthanasia in the UK, and indeed in every country, is a difficult and emotional topic. Some see it as a hope for a dignified death, while others view it as a threat to the most vulnerable.

Polish version: Spór o eutanazję w Anglii. Co teraz zrobią brytyjscy Lordowie?