The bill would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist.

The vote saw 314 MPs back the bill, while 291 voted against it, giving a majority of 23 - down from 55 in the previous vote. The bill now moves to the House of Lords.

In response, BMA medical ethics committee chair Dr Andrew Green, said: ‘The BMA is neutral on the issue of assisted dying, which means we neither support or oppose it as a principle, nor in relation to any change in law. We have always said this is a matter for parliamentarians, and not doctors, to decide, which is what we have seen play out over recent months, passing this important milestone today.

‘If this law does come to pass, it would likely have a significant impact on the way doctors work and their relationship with patients, which is why, while being neutral on the central question, we have engaged with the Bill and raised a number of key issues on behalf of our membership and the medical profession.

He added: ‘As the Bill reaches the Lords there are a number of issues we would still want addressed. These include the need for an official information service to provide individual patients with tailored information about the range of options available to them, which should include access to palliative care, as well as assisted dying.

‘Meanwhile, we would like to see a provision for safe access zones around premises linked to any assisted dying services – as already in place for abortion providers – to ensure that staff and patients alike are protected from abuse or harassment; as well as clarification as to how doctors would be protected regarding shared care arrangements between jurisdictions in the UK and Crown Dependencies. There must be joined up thinking by legislators so that doctors are not exposed to legal risks when trying to help their patients.'

More to follow.