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.

UK Members of Parliament will hold a landmark vote on assisted dying on Friday as they decide whether to allow terminally ill people with less than six months to live to opt to end their own 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.