MPs in the House of Commons have today rejected the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, halting the latest attempt to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. The vote, held on Friday 11 September 2026, resulted in 270 members in favour and 286 against, a narrow defeat by a majority of 16.
The decision means that for the time being, assisted dying remains illegal across the UK mainland. The result follows a similar rejection in Scotland, where MSPs voted against an assisted dying bill in March 2026 by 69 votes to 57.
The proposed UK legislation was designed with strict criteria, limited to adults with a terminal diagnosis of six months or less to live. This “terminal prognosis” model is significantly narrower than the frameworks used in several European nations.
Developments in the Crown Dependencies
Despite the defeat in Westminster, the legal landscape is shifting elsewhere in the British Isles. Jersey is set to become the first jurisdiction in the region to offer assisted dying services. The Assisted Dying (Jersey) Law 2026 received Royal Assent on 9 July 2026, with the government there preparing for the service to be operational by 2027.
Global legal landscape
Estimates suggest that approximately 400 million people worldwide now live in jurisdictions where some form of assisted dying is legal. However, the rules governing who can access it vary significantly between countries.
In July 2026, the French National Assembly approved an assisted dying bill for adults with incurable conditions, which is currently undergoing constitutional review. If enacted, France will join a growing list of European nations with established frameworks.
In the United States, the legal status is determined at the state level. As of 2026, assisted dying is legal in 14 jurisdictions, including recent additions such as New York and Illinois. Most US states follow the Oregon model, which, like the defeated UK bill, requires a terminal diagnosis with a life expectancy of six months or less.
While today’s vote in the House of Commons maintains the status quo in the UK, the narrow margin of defeat suggests that the debate remains a central issue for future parliaments.
