Assisted Dying Bill rejected by MPs
MPs have rejected a renewed attempt to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was defeated at its Second Reading in the House of Commons by 286 votes to 270.
The Bill would have allowed eligible terminally ill adults to request medical assistance to end their life, subject to safeguards and an assessment process.
The result means the Bill will not progress and the current law in England and Wales remains unchanged.
The position across the UK
There is currently no lawful assisted dying framework in any of the four nations of the UK.
In England and Wales, encouraging or assisting another person to end their life remains a criminal offence under the Suicide Act 1961.
Northern Ireland has separate legislation, where encouraging or assisting suicide also remains a criminal offence.
Scotland has a different legal framework and does not have a specific offence of assisted suicide. Depending on the circumstances, assisting another person to die may result in prosecution under homicide law.
The Scottish Parliament considered separate legislation earlier this year. The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill was rejected on 17 March 2026, with 57 MSPs voting in favour, 69 against and one abstention.
Jersey and the Isle of Man
Jersey and the Isle of Man are Crown Dependencies and are not part of the United Kingdom.
Jersey has passed its own assisted dying law, which received Royal Assent in July 2026. The service is not yet operating and is not expected to begin before September 2027. Eligibility includes being ordinarily resident in Jersey for at least 12 months.
The Isle of Man has also progressed separate assisted dying legislation, but it is not currently in force. The Bill includes a five-year residency requirement.
The different position in the Crown Dependencies does not provide immediate access for someone living elsewhere in the UK. Both jurisdictions have residency requirements within their respective frameworks.