The Fort Worth Press - British MPs back contentious assisted dying bill in 'historic' vote

USD -
AED 3.673042
AFN 68.000368
ALL 93.503989
AMD 394.640403
ANG 1.803454
AOA 910.982041
ARS 1010.514404
AUD 1.532602
AWG 1.8025
AZN 1.70397
BAM 1.852855
BBD 2.020368
BDT 119.577471
BGN 1.853785
BHD 0.376946
BIF 2895
BMD 1
BND 1.340521
BOB 6.914551
BRL 6.007504
BSD 1.000663
BTN 84.64038
BWP 13.614316
BYN 3.274755
BYR 19600
BZD 2.016957
CAD 1.399915
CDF 2871.000362
CHF 0.880115
CLF 0.035281
CLP 973.503912
CNY 7.242804
CNH 7.248785
COP 4423.89
CRC 508.525957
CUC 1
CUP 26.5
CVE 104.950394
CZK 23.878504
DJF 177.720393
DKK 7.052304
DOP 60.403884
DZD 133.353854
EGP 49.582504
ERN 15
ETB 124.203874
EUR 0.94565
FJD 2.263504
FKP 0.789317
GBP 0.785324
GEL 2.81504
GGP 0.789317
GHS 15.503856
GIP 0.789317
GMD 71.000355
GNF 8630.000355
GTQ 7.721093
GYD 209.350133
HKD 7.780085
HNL 25.317607
HRK 7.133259
HTG 131.139001
HUF 390.397504
IDR 15840.15
ILS 3.630855
IMP 0.789317
INR 84.55625
IQD 1310
IRR 42087.503816
ISK 137.380386
JEP 0.789317
JMD 157.660389
JOD 0.709104
JPY 149.544504
KES 129.503801
KGS 86.803799
KHR 4029.00035
KMF 466.950384
KPW 899.999621
KRW 1394.395039
KWD 0.30741
KYD 0.833843
KZT 517.043086
LAK 21945.000349
LBP 89600.000349
LKR 290.843636
LRD 179.203772
LSL 18.030381
LTL 2.95274
LVL 0.60489
LYD 4.880381
MAD 10.002039
MDL 18.311947
MGA 4694.012884
MKD 58.283647
MMK 3247.960992
MNT 3397.999946
MOP 8.022452
MRU 39.920379
MUR 46.450378
MVR 15.460378
MWK 1735.000345
MXN 20.287225
MYR 4.445039
MZN 63.910377
NAD 18.030377
NGN 1683.950377
NIO 36.824404
NOK 11.023465
NPR 135.42544
NZD 1.688006
OMR 0.38499
PAB 1.000663
PEN 3.753504
PGK 4.036911
PHP 58.592038
PKR 278.103701
PLN 4.056565
PYG 7815.179392
QAR 3.640504
RON 4.705704
RSD 110.563038
RUB 106.497518
RWF 1372.5
SAR 3.756917
SBD 8.39059
SCR 13.646706
SDG 601.503676
SEK 10.89057
SGD 1.338805
SHP 0.789317
SLE 22.750371
SLL 20969.504736
SOS 571.503662
SRD 35.40366
STD 20697.981008
SVC 8.755625
SYP 2512.529858
SZL 18.030369
THB 34.303649
TJS 10.906878
TMT 3.5
TND 3.142038
TOP 2.342104
TRY 34.697265
TTD 6.78003
TWD 32.448038
TZS 2640.000335
UAH 41.623291
UGX 3692.861541
UYU 42.870271
UZS 12861.081373
VES 47.252861
VND 25346.5
VUV 118.722009
WST 2.791591
XAF 621.430331
XAG 0.032627
XAU 0.000376
XCD 2.70255
XDR 0.76547
XOF 621.459768
XPF 113.503593
YER 250.403591
ZAR 18.016605
ZMK 9001.203587
ZMW 26.942023
ZWL 321.999592
  • RBGPF

    1.0000

    62

    +1.61%

  • BCC

    0.9800

    147.38

    +0.66%

  • CMSD

    0.0930

    24.453

    +0.38%

  • RIO

    0.5590

    62.879

    +0.89%

  • SCS

    0.0550

    13.525

    +0.41%

  • JRI

    0.2100

    13.62

    +1.54%

  • CMSC

    0.0950

    24.615

    +0.39%

  • BTI

    0.0250

    37.965

    +0.07%

  • GSK

    -0.1950

    34.135

    -0.57%

  • NGG

    0.4270

    63.757

    +0.67%

  • RELX

    0.0450

    47.095

    +0.1%

  • RYCEF

    0.2200

    7.13

    +3.09%

  • VOD

    0.0000

    8.97

    0%

  • BP

    0.1550

    29.285

    +0.53%

  • BCE

    0.0150

    27.035

    +0.06%

  • AZN

    0.4200

    67.62

    +0.62%

British MPs back contentious assisted dying bill in 'historic' vote

British MPs back contentious assisted dying bill in 'historic' vote

UK lawmakers voted Friday in favour of assisted dying for terminally ill people in England and Wales, advancing the emotive and contentious legislation to the next stage of parliamentary scrutiny.

Text size:

Campaign group Dignity in Dying hailed the result as a "historic step towards greater choice and protection for dying people", but Christian Concern called it a "very Black Friday for the vulnerable in this country".

MPs voted by 330 to 275 in support of legalised euthanasia in the first vote on the issue in the House of Commons for nearly a decade.

The result followed an emotionally charged debate that lasted almost five hours in a packed and hushed chamber, and as competing protesters made their voices heard outside parliament.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill now progresses to the next stage where lawmakers can propose amendments, a process likely to be vexed.

The legislation would then face further votes in the Commons and House of Lords upper chamber.

The process will likely take months and if it is ultimately passed then a change in the law is expected to be several years away.

The House of Commons last debated, and defeated, a euthanasia bill in 2015, but public support for giving terminally ill people the choice to end their lives has since shifted in favour, polls show.

A change in the law would see Britain emulate several other countries in Europe and elsewhere who allow some form of assisted dying.

- First step -

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who is behind the bill, told the debate that changing the law would give terminally ill people "choice, autonomy and dignity at the end of their lives".

Advocates also argue that it would make some deaths less painful.

But other MPs expressed concern that people might feel coerced into opting for euthanasia, while some said they were worried it would discriminate against people with disabilities.

Opponents also worry that the healthcare system (NHS) is not ready for such a landmark change and that it could cause a decline in investment for palliative care.

"True dignity consists in being cared for to the end," Conservative MP Danny Kruger said, urging colleagues to reject a "state suicide service".

Outside, scores of opponents gathered, holding signs reading: "Kill the Bill, not the ill" and "Care not killing".

A nearby gathering in favour of the legislation saw people dressed in pink holding placards with slogans such as: "My life, my death, my choice."

After the vote crowds of supporters hugged Leadbeater.

"I know what it means to people. If we hadn't achieved what we achieved today, I'd have let them down," she said.

Broadcaster Esther Rantzen, who is terminally ill and has spearheaded the campaign for a law change, said she was "absolutely thrilled", even though it was unlikely she would benefit.

She said she had been "very moved by the various doctors who took part, who gave painful but important descriptions of the kinds of death people suffer, which cannot be eased by even the best palliative care".

The Church of England's lead bishop for healthcare, Sarah Mullally, who had opposed the move, said that safeguarding the vulnerable "must now be our priority".

"Today's vote still leaves the question of how this could be implemented in an overstretched and under-funded NHS, social care and legal system," she added.

- PM support -

Assisted suicide currently carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In Scotland, which has a separate legal system and devolved powers to set its own health policy, it is not a specific criminal offence. But it can leave a person open to other charges, including murder.

Leadbeater's bill would allow assisted suicide in England and Wales for adults with an incurable illness who have a life expectancy of fewer than six months and are able to take the substance that causes their death themselves.

Any patient's wish to die would have to be signed off by a judge and two doctors.

The measures are stricter than assisted dying laws in other European countries. Consideration is being given to a similar law change in Scotland.

MPs had a free vote, meaning predicting the outcome was virtually impossible.

Starmer voted in favour, as he did in 2015. His ministerial team was fairly evenly split for and against, parliamentary data showed.

L.Rodriguez--TFWP