The proposal means that people living in England and Wales who have less than six months left to live will be entitled to assisted dying, after approval from two doctors and a panel consisting of a psychiatrist, social worker and lawyer.
The vote on Friday in the House of Commons chamber followed a four-hour debate, which was initiated by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater.
It's time to correct the deep injustices of the status quo and offer a safe choice for terminally ill people, she said according to The Guardian.
She claims that it's not about a choice between living and dying – but about a choice for terminally ill people about how they die.
The MPs who opposed the proposal believe that it would lead to people being forced to end their lives prematurely.
314 members voted in favor, while 291 voted against. Now the proposal is moving forward and will be dealt with by the British Parliament's House of Lords, where it is expected to pass.
If that happens, the British government will have four years to implement the bill. It is still unclear whether it will be the public healthcare or private actors that will provide the service. The form of financing is also unclear.
