A bill aiming to legalize assisted dying in England and Wales was defeated by British MPs on Friday, September 11, with 286 voting against and 270 in favor. The proposed law would have allowed terminally ill patients with less than six months to live to request assistance in ending their lives. Under the bill, a patient’s request would have needed to be approved by two doctors and a panel of experts, and the individual would have had to self-administer the lethal medication. The bill had passed in a close vote in June 2025 but was stalled in April after prolonged opposition in the unelected House of Lords. It was reintroduced in mid-June by a Labour MP. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who took office in July, said he would not vote on the bill to avoid influencing the debate. The Labour government remained neutral on the issue, allowing MPs to vote based on their own convictions. Supporters of the bill argue that legalizing assisted dying allows terminally ill adults to die with dignity, while opponents fear it could place undue pressure on vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and disabled. During the debate, Labour MP Janet Daby shared that she had changed her stance after voting in favor of the bill earlier, saying she experienced "nightmares about death and dying" and struggled with the moral implications of her decision. Lauren Edwards, the bill’s original sponsor, criticized Parliament for "missing its chance" and called the current law "too cruel and unfair." The "Dignity in Dying" organization, which advocates for legalizing assisted dying, called the rejection a "devastating setback" for people facing the end of life. They emphasized that the issue of legalizing assisted dying is not a matter of if, but when. In contrast, the "Assist Us To Live" group, composed of disabled individuals and those with terminal illnesses, viewed the vote as a "victory" for those who would have been at risk under the bill. According to a recent YouGov survey, 41% of Britons support the legalization of assisted dying, while 28% oppose it. Currently, only the Crown dependencies of Jersey and the Isle of Man have passed similar legislation, though they await royal approval to implement the laws. In March, the Scottish Parliament narrowly rejected a similar bill by a margin of 69 to 57 votes.