Canada’s House of Commons has rejected a private member's bill to legalise assisted suicide. Bill C-384 was defeated Wednesday afternoon on second reading by a 228-59 margin. The bill would have allowed doctors to avoid murder and manslaughter charges for helping terminally ill people or those in severe chronic pain to die.

The bill stipulated that a physician could help someone to “die with dignity” provided nine conditions were met, including that the person was 18 or older, suffered from a terminal illness or unrelenting physical or mental pain, had made two written requests to die at least 10 days apart, and had their diagnosis confirmed by a second doctor.

Foes of euthanasia were jubilant. However, both sides are gearing up for more battles. "There will be another bill in the next Parliament," said Alex Schadenberg, of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.  "That's just what's going on.  Our goal is to get ready for the next battle, which will be in a couple years after the next election."