Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: final vote on Bill in House of Commons and next steps

This article contains sensitive content around proposals for lawfully assisted dying.

On 20 June 2025 the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was passed by the House of Commons by 314 votes to 291 votes.

The Bill has now moved into the House of Lords as it progresses to the next stage of parliamentary scrutiny, and has had its first reading on 23 June 2025.

Here we provide an overview of some of the key areas of the Bill which are likely to be among those that will be the focus of further close consideration.

Safeguarding

An issue that has been central in discussions is the safeguarding for vulnerable members of society at risk of being coerced to seek assistance to die.

Section 1(2) of the Bill sets out a requirement that the person:

“(a) has a clear, settled and informed wish to end their own life, and
(b) has made the decision that they wish to end their own life voluntarily and has not been coerced or pressured by any other person into making it.”

Section 2(4) of the Bill also makes provision for ensuring a person who would not otherwise meet the requirements of being terminally ill under the legislation, is not to be considered terminally ill simply because of a disability or mental disorder, or both.

In the House of Commons, MPs debated the insertion of an additional clause setting out the definition of ‘wishing to end one’s own life’ to address concerns arising in relation to the reasons a person may seek assistance under the statute, for example on the basis of factors such as financial considerations or feeling too much of a burden to loved ones.

The addition was defeated by a majority of 53.

Capacity

A further proposed amendment to disapply the presumption that a person has capacity unless the opposite is established was also voted against by MPs by 266 votes to 213.

Eating disorders

Review in the House of Commons has resulted in amendments to the Bill intended to address concerns arising in relation to patients with eating disorders. Specific provision has now been made at s2(2) which provides that a person who would not otherwise meet the requirements of being terminally ill under the statute “shall not be considered to meet those requirements solely as a result of voluntarily stopping eating or drinking.”

However, concerns were raised during the debates that this may not be a sufficient safeguard in this regard, as it was observed that such a provision would not necessarily prevent those suffering with anorexia from meeting the requirements under the statute once the individual’s physical condition had deteriorated to a sufficient extent.

Assisted Dying Review Panel

In addition to the appointment of an Assisted Dying Commissioner, the Bill introduces a Review Panel, whose role will be to scrutinise the first declaration made by the person seeking assistance to die. This panel replaced the original provision for a High Court judge to carry out the scrutiny. The panel must hear from the coordinating doctor and the person seeking assistance themselves (unless there are exceptional circumstances not to).