British lawmakers are set to decide Friday whether to legalize assisted dying, a contentious proposal that would make the United Kingdom one of a small handful of nations to allow terminally ill people to end their lives.

British lawmakers have voted to allow assisted dying, a move set to make the UK one of a small handful of countries to allow terminally ill people to end their lives.

Palliative care expert Nancy Preston said interest increased during the pandemic, when people witnessed the sorts of deaths they want to avoid for themselves.

Britain's parliament voted in favour of a new bill to legalise assisted dying on Friday, opening the way for months of further debate on an issue that has divided the country and raised questions about the standard of palliative care.

The bill applies to those who are at least 18 years old, have received a terminal diagnosis and have no more than six months to live. Two doctors and a judge would have to give their approval, and fatal drugs would need to be self-administered.

The bill, modeled after Oregon’s law, would apply to terminally ill patients and could usher in one of the most dramatic social changes Britain has seen in years.