Last updated on September 14th, 2026 at 09:31 am
British lawmakers have rejected legislation that would have legalized assisted suicide for terminally ill adults in England and Wales, delivering a significant victory for opponents who warned that vulnerable people could be placed at risk.
After a four-hour debate in the House of Commons, MPs defeated the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by 286 votes to 270. The result reverses earlier parliamentary support for similar legislation.
The bill would have allowed adults diagnosed with fewer than six months to live to seek an assisted death, subject to approval from two doctors and an expert panel.
Opponents argued that the proposed safeguards were inadequate and could leave elderly, disabled, or otherwise vulnerable people exposed to pressure or coercion. The Royal College of Psychiatrists also raised concerns about protections for people suffering from mental illness.
Catholic and Anglican leaders were among the prominent voices opposing the legislation. Archbishop Richard Moth, leader of Catholics in England and Wales, described the measure as “wrong in principle” and “deeply flawed.”
The government remained officially neutral, allowing MPs to vote according to conscience rather than party lines.
The defeat brings an end, for now, to a lengthy parliamentary battle over assisted suicide in England and Wales. The issue had been debated repeatedly over the past two years, with supporters coming close to securing legalization before concerns over safeguards ultimately prevailed.
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