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U.K. lawmakers on Friday approved a bill to allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to choose to end their lives in a historic vote in Parliament that takes it a step nearer to becoming law.
Members of Parliament voted 314-291 to back the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill following an impassioned and respectful debate. The majority of 23 was less than the 55 when they last voted on the issue in November, meaning that some lawmakers changed their minds in the intervening months.
Since November, the bill has been scrutinized, leading to some changes in the proposed legislation, which has been shepherded by Labour lawmaker Kim Leadbeater rather than the government.
Following the vote, Leadbeater said that she felt “a huge sense of relief.”
It’s not quite law yet as the bill now goes to the unelected House of Lords, which can amend or delay policy, though it can’t overrule the lower chamber.
The vote is potentially the biggest change to social policy since abortion was partially legalized in 1967.
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There are also questions about how it would impact the NHS, hospice care and the legal system.
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