ENGLAND AND WALES – The House of Commons approves the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
06 August 2025
On 20 June 2025, the House of Commons passed the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, by 314 votes in favour to 291 against after extensive debate and numerous amendments.
With this bill, for the first time in ten years, there is a chance that assisted dying (specifically: assisted suicide) will become possible in England and Wales in the coming years – albeit within a narrow framework.
In principle, assisted suicide is to become accessible to terminally ill adults who are capable of judgement and have a maximum life expectancy of six months. The law defines the detailed processes and responsibilities from the application to the procedure itself. An unusually long period of four years is currently planned for the implementation of the law.
It was a free vote, which means that every MP could vote according to their personal convictions.
Next stop: House of Lords
The Bill has now proceeded to the House of Lords, which will debate it and potentially introduce more amendments this autumn, which the House of Commons will then also have to approve.
