A small demonstration by people advocating assisted dying hold a protest outside the Hoses of Parliament as a bill to legalise assisted dying is to be put before lawmakers in London, England, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024.

A private member’s bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales will be voted on in the House of Commons today.

The proposed legislation could allow terminally ill people aged over 18 to end their lives when they choose to, rather than suffer through a prolonged illness.

However, those opposed to the bill fear it could mean patients feel pressured to die.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is the current law on assisted dying?

Assisted dying is not legal in the UK right now.

The Commons last voted on the issue back in 2015, when MPs rejected plans to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives with medical supervision.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who is spearheading the new bill, said the current laws in the UK are “not fit for purpose” and “leading to people having horrible deaths, taking their own lives [and] having to go to other countries [to die] if they can afford it”.

A separate bill to legalise assisting dying has been proposed in Scotland.

What is in the bill?

The bill allows terminally ill adults – who have less than six months to live – to legally end their own lives.

The individual would have to be over the age of 18, a resident in England or Wales, registered with a GP for at least 12 months, have the mental capacity to make a clear choice about ending their life, and express a “clear, settled and informed” wish to die throughout the process – without any........

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