RismadarVoice Reporters
September 11, 2026
British lawmakers have rejected a bill that would have legalised assisted dying for some terminally ill adults in England and Wales, following a closely contested vote in the House of Commons.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was defeated on Friday after 286 Members of Parliament voted against the legislation, while 270 backed the proposed law.
The bill sought to allow adults diagnosed with less than six months to live to request medical assistance to end their lives, provided they were considered capable of making an informed decision.
Under the proposed framework, applicants would have required approval from two doctors and an independent expert panel before the procedure could take place.
The defeat represents a setback for campaigners who have long advocated for assisted dying reform in the United Kingdom, while opponents of the legislation welcomed the outcome.
Gordon Macdonald of Care Not Killing said the result showed that MPs had rejected a proposal whose safeguards were inadequate to protect vulnerable people.
However, campaign group Dignity in Dying described the decision as a major disappointment for terminally ill patients and said the debate over assisted dying would continue.
The bill had previously passed a historic vote in the House of Commons last year but failed to become law after facing significant changes and opposition in the House of Lords.
Scotland also rejected separate assisted dying legislation earlier this year, while lawmakers in Jersey and the Isle of Man have approved similar measures that are currently awaiting royal assent.
