Friends at the End has today welcomed the decision by MPs to progress the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to committee stage, a major step towards legalisation of assisted dying in England. The bill received support of 330 MPs following a four hour debate in which many MPs related stories of their or their constituents experiences with poor deaths.
Speaking following the vote, Emma Cooper, Convenor of Friends at the End said:
“The passing of the bill at second reading today in Westminster reflects the overwhelming public feeling across the UK that assisted dying should be legalised for terminally ill adults, but of course, this is the very start of the process for England and Wales.
“England and Wales have joined Scotland, the Isle of Man and Jersey on the path to giving terminally ill adults the right to a good death.
“Around 300 million people globally have access to assisted dying and evidence from countries delivering assisted dying over the past twenty years demonstrates the safety and compassion with which this can be provided.
“We look forward to hearing details of the next stages of the bill, as the Public Bill Committee seeks evidence.”
