The House of Commons of the British parliament approved a bill on Friday that would legalize assisted suicide for terminally ill people, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
The law was voted in favor by 314 members of the lower house, while 291 were against.
The law would allow terminally ill patients who are mentally competent and have up to six months to live to choose to end their lives with medical assistance.
The law will now be submitted to the House of Lords, where it is expected to be considered for months. The text may be amended, but the Lords are not expected to block a bill approved by the lower house.
If the bill passes, Britain will follow Australia, Canada and other countries, as well as some US states, that allow assisted suicide.
The British Labour government has taken a neutral position on the bill, meaning that members of parliament voted according to conscience rather than party line. Prime Minister Keir Starmer himself voted in favor of the law.
Supporters of the bill say it will provide dignity and compassion for suffering people, but opponents fear that vulnerable people could be pressured to end their lives.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the British parliament awaiting the vote. After the announcement of the result, supporters of the law greeted it with shouts of "Victory!", while opponents reacted with silence.
Sociological surveys show that the majority of Britons support the possibility of assisted suicide for terminally ill people.