The British Parliament votes in favor of death legislation with help

On Friday, the British Parliament voted in favor of a bill to legitimize death.

The result came after hours of emotional debate and signs to personal stories in the room, and obtained a vote in November that agreed to legislation in principle. This vote was closer: 314 legislators in favor of 291 against the draft law, compared to the division of 330-275 eight months ago.

The law will give “adults with absolute diseases (the end of life)” mentally specialized adults with mental illness in England and Wales with six months or less to live the right to choose to end their life with medical help.

The vote places Britain on its path to follow Australia, Canada and other countries, as well as some American states, to allow death with help.

Supporters say it will provide dignity and mercy to the people who suffer, but opponents fear that weak people can be coerced to end their lives.

Emma Bray, who suffers from motor nerve disease, said she hopes to help people in her condition.

Bryi, 42, has two children, said that she intends to starve herself to death next month to help relieve pain after she told her that she had only six months to live.

“This result means that people will not have to pass the same suffering,” she told Reuters.

“A dark day for our country”: the priest

The draft law is now transferred to the British Supreme Chamber, the House of Lords, where it will be subject to months of scrutiny. While there are other amendments, unacceptable Lords will be reluctant to prevent legislation approved by elected members of the House of Commons.

The government of Prime Minister Kiir Starmer was neutral in the legislation, which means that politicians voted according to their conscience and not on the party’s lines. Starmer had previously said he would prefer to allow death with help.

The opponents of the draft law argued that they may feel that they should be upset with their lives for fear that they would be a burden on their families and society, and some legislators withdrew their support after the first vote last year, saying that the guarantees have weakened.

John Howard, a Catholic priest who led about ten people in prayer outside Parliament during the vote, said he was concerned that some people would be forced to end their lives early under pressure from family members.

“I feel sad and very anxious, especially for the most vulnerable and disabled,” he told Reuters. “This is a dark day for our country.”

In the original plan, the subsidized death required the approval of the court. This has been replaced by the requirements of the ruling by a committee, including a social worker, a great legal figure and a psychiatrist, which some see as a mitigation.

The labor legislator, who proposed the draft law, Kim Lidepter, said that the legislation continues to provide some of the world’s strongest protection against the coercion of vulnerable people.

“I am completely confident of the bill,” she told the BBC after the vote. “The guarantees are very comprehensive and very strong, and I am sure this will help people who need help.”

Opinion polls showed that the majority of Britons helped death in principle.

Hundreds of activists alike in favor and against the legislation that gathered outside Parliament on Friday to watch the vote on their mobile phones.