UK Parliament rejects euthanasia bill

The UK House of Commons has rejected a bill to legalize assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales.

According to Report, citing the Associated Press, 286 lawmakers voted against the bill and 270 voted in favor after a four-hour debate.

The bill would have allowed adults in England and Wales with a medically predicted life expectancy of less than six months to seek assistance to end their lives voluntarily. The process would have required approval from two doctors and a special expert panel.

The vote brought to an end nearly two years of parliamentary debate over assisted dying. The House of Commons had previously backed the initiative twice, but it did not become law after consideration in the House of Lords was delayed.

The UK government maintained a neutral position on the issue.