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UK Parliament to Debate Assisted Dying in Historic Vote. The British parliament will soon vote on a bill allowing terminally ill individuals the right to end their life, a significant legal shift, Politico reports. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater will introduce the bill, stating that the "time is right" for this sensitive topic to be reconsidered. The bill is expected to permit terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to seek medical assistance to end their lives. PM Keir Starmer, personally in favor of the law change, has ensured time for parliamentary debate on the topic. MPs will have a free vote, meaning they can vote according to their personal beliefs rather than party lines. While some cabinet members like Ed Miliband support the change, others like Health Secretary Wes Streeting express concerns about end-of-life care in the UK. Assisting suicide is currently illegal in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison. Support for reform has been bolstered by public figures like broadcaster Esther Rantzen, who is battling lung cancer. Some, including Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson, oppose the reform over fears it may impact vulnerable people. Countries such as Switzerland, Austria, Canada, and several U.S. states have legalized assisted dying, with the UK’s Scotland, Jersey, and the Isle of Man also considering changes.
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