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The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, often referred to as the Assisted Dying Bill, is a legislative proposal intended to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults in England and Wales. As of 24 April 2026, the bill has officially failed to become law in the current parliamentary session after running out of time in the House of Lords.
Supporters and constitutional experts largely attributed this failure to a deliberate filibuster and "procedural wrangling" by a small group of peers opposed to the legislation.
Record-Breaking Amendments
Voluminous Tabling: Peers tabled a record 1,200+ amendments, the highest number for a backbench bill in nearly 20 years.
Concentrated Effort: Approximately three-quarters of these amendments were sponsored by a group of just nine peers (roughly 1% of the House).
Frivolous Proposals: Critics cited specific "blocking" amendments that appeared designed solely to waste time, such as requirements for all applicants—including men—to take pregnancy tests, or for every assisted death to be filmed.
Current Status (April 2026)
Fallen in the Lords: Despite being passed by the House of Commons in June 2025, the bill stalled in the House of Lords. Supporters attribute this to "procedural sabotage" and filibustering by opponents who tabled more than 1,200 amendments to block its progress.
Next Steps: Because Private Members' Bills cannot be carried over to a new session, the bill is now effectively dead for this term. However, lead sponsor Kim Leadbeater MP has vowed to reintroduce the legislation in the next session, which begins on 13 May 2026.
Key Provisions of the Bill
If it had passed, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would have established the following framework:
Eligibility: Only for adults (18+) with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less.
Capacity: The individual must have the mental capacity to make a clear, settled, and informed decision, free from coercion.
Safeguards:
Medical Approval: Two independent doctors must confirm eligibility and voluntary intent.
Judicial/Expert Oversight: Applications would be reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel, including a senior lawyer, psychiatrist, and social worker.
Reflection Period: A mandatory 14-day wait (cooling-off period) after the initial request before proceeding.
Self-Administration: The final act of taking the life-ending medication must be performed by the patient themselves; doctors are forbidden from administering it.
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