The British House of Commons (low) approved this Friday, for 330 votes in favor compared to 275 againstthe bill proposed by the Labor representative Kim Leadbeater to legalize assisted suicide in England and Wales.
The difference of 55 votes will allow this text to continue its parliamentary processwith the presentation of amendments and scrutiny in the House of Lords (upper), prior to a final vote that would still take months.
The deputies expressed their opinions and debated different points of view from 9:30 GMT until almost 14:30 GMT, when the result of a vote was known in which The parties gave parliamentarians freedom of suffrageconsidering that it is a matter of conscience.
In the case of the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmerwhich had maintained a neutral position until now, the vote count showed that was in favor of the bill.
The so-called “End of Life Bill for Terminally Ill Adults”, whose legislative initiative corresponds to Leadbeater in his personal capacity, would legalize in England and Wales, in the event of its final approval, that Those over 18 years of age who suffer from a terminal illness can receive assistance in dying.
Unlike past proposals, which had been unsuccessful, Leadbeater’s initiative imposes more requirements for interested parties and turns into crimecon Penalties of up to 14 years for pressuring, restraining or deceiving someone into taking their life or declaring that they want to end it.
Applicants must be residents of England or Wales y have been registered with a GP for at least 12 monthsin addition to having a life expectancy of less than six months y be able to make the decision and express a wishclear, firm, informed and free of coercion or pressure”.
Those affected will have to do two separate statements, witnessed and signedabout their wish to die, and must undergo evaluation by two doctors and obtain a court order.
The approved text provides that, although a doctor could prepare the lethal compound, it must be the person themselves who takes it and no one else would be authorized to manage it.
During the course of the debate, various organizations, including people with disabilities, demonstrated this Friday at the doors of Parliament, both in favor of and against the legislative project.
(With information from agencies)
