The British Parliament has narrowly voted in favor of a bill that would legalize voluntary assisted dying (VAD).

The bill would give mentally competent and terminally ill adults with less than six months to live in England and Wales the right to choose to end their lives, but only with the approval of two doctors.

The laws were adopted with 330 votes in favor and 275 against.

Among those who voted in favor of the reforms was British Prime Minister Kier Starmer.

During the long and emotional parliamentary debate, supporters of the bill argued that it aimed to reduce the length of time terminally ill people die and give them more control.

But opponents have warned that sick and vulnerable people may feel they should end their lives for fear of becoming a burden on their families and society, rather than for their own well-being.

Others expressed concern that there was not enough time to review the bill before voting on it.

Terminally ill woman haunted by partner’s death says voting is a relief

Jenny Carruthers watched her partner die in excruciating pain from cancer that had spread to his bones.

Now diagnosed with the same illness, she hopes a vote in favor of assisted dying in Britain will allow her to die more peacefully.

“I watched my partner die in uncontrollable agony and it looks like I’m going to face the same future,” Ms Carruthers, 56, said.

“We need this.”

Ahead of the parliamentary vote, a poll showed most Britons supported assisted dying.

All Australian states and the Australian Capital Territory have legalized VAD in recent years.

In the mid-1990s, the Northern Territory became one of the first countries in the world to legalize VAD, but the Commonwealth later overturned its laws.

The UK House of Commons’ initial vote in favor of the bill will trigger months of debate and the bill could be amended as it moves through various parliamentary processes.

Emotional debate over the ethics of VAD

The bill was introduced by Labor MP Kim Leadbeater as a private member’s bill.

During the debate, Ms Leadbeater spoke about the experiences of many of her constituents which motivated her to push for change.

She spoke of a terminally ill woman who lived in immense pain for four days before dying, despite being given the maximum dose of painkillers.

“Let’s be clear: we are not talking about a choice between life or death; we are talking about giving the dying a choice of how to die,” she told parliament.

After the vote, she said she was “overwhelmed” by the support from her fellow MPs.

Conservative MP Danny Kruger led opposition to the bill, expressing concern over whether some patients might feel pressured to opt for VAD due to the poor state of palliative care.

“It’s clear that with this new option and the relative loss of investment and innovation in palliative care, real choice is going to narrow,” Kruger said.

ABC/Reuters