Lawmakers to vote again on whether to allow assisted dying in England and Wales

LONDON - British MPs will be voting again on the assisted dying bill on Friday, as both supporters and opponents of the legislation gathered outside parliament. The bill, which was passed in a landmark vote in the House of Commons last year, has faced numerous challenges and opposition in the upper house of parliament.

The controversial legislation aims to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales who have less than six months to live and can clearly express a desire to end their life. They would need approval from two doctors and an expert panel to pursue euthanasia.

Although the bill passed in a historic vote in June of last year, it was ultimately blocked by over 1,200 amendments in the House of Lords, which critics accused of obstructing and delaying the legislation. The bill, known as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, has been reintroduced by an MP from the ruling Labour party in the new parliamentary session.

The new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has indicated that he will abstain from the vote to avoid influencing the debate. Burnham has been focusing on improving social care for the elderly and vulnerable since taking office in July, and has prioritised palliative care.

Lauren Edwards, the MP who brought the bill back, urged lawmakers to pass it once more and send it back to the House of Lords, in order to complete what they had initially started.