英国“安乐死”接近合法化，引发巨大争议

Core Points - The UK Parliament's House of Commons passed the "Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill" with a vote of 314 to 291, allowing terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of six months or less to end their lives through medical means [1][2] - The bill will now be reviewed by the House of Lords, where it is expected to pass despite potential amendments or delays [1] - The legislation has sparked significant public debate, with supporters calling it a major social reform and opponents warning of potential societal risks [1][3] Support and Opposition - Supporters argue that the legislation empowers individuals to make choices about their own lives, particularly for terminally ill patients [4] - Opponents raise concerns about the sanctity of life, the protection of vulnerable groups, and the potential for a "slippery slope" effect, where the criteria for assisted dying could be gradually expanded [4] - Critics also highlight the risk of societal pressure on vulnerable individuals to choose death, questioning whether such a choice would truly be voluntary [4] Economic Implications - The introduction of assisted dying services would create additional costs for the National Health Service (NHS), with estimated daily operational costs of around £2,000 and annual costs between £10.9 million and £13.6 million [5] - While some reports suggest that legalizing assisted dying could lead to long-term savings for the healthcare system, this notion has faced strong criticism from opponents who argue that it raises ethical concerns about valuing life based on economic factors [6] - There are fears that economic considerations could lead to negative incentives within the NHS, potentially encouraging the abandonment of treatment for seriously ill patients [7]