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But Britain's director of public prosecutions decided last year not to bring charges against the parents of Daniel James, a 23-year-old man paralysed in a rugby accident who committed suicide at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland.
DPP Keir Starmer said such a move would not be in the public interest.
Introducing the proposal in the unelected upper house of parliament Tuesday, Lord Charles Falconer, from the ruling Labour Party, said 115 people had already travelled from Britain to Switzerland for help to commit suicide.
Although there had been investigations, no one had been prosecuted, he said.
"The result of the law not being applied is we have the horror of people going early to commit suicide abroad without their loved ones there," said Falconer, a former Lord Chancellor.
But independent peer Baroness Jane Campbell, who was born with spinal muscular atrophy, said the amendment sent the wrong signals to disabled people.
"If this amendment were to succeed, I believe it will place a new and invidious pressure on disabled and terminally ill people, who think that they are close to the end of their lives," she said.
The move had sparked widespread debate on both sides of the euthanasia divide, including criticism from church leaders, in the lead up to the vote.
The amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill was rejected by 194 votes to 141, a majority of 53.
Peers were free to vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines.
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DPP Keir Starmer said such a move would not be in the public interest.
Introducing the proposal in the unelected upper house of parliament Tuesday, Lord Charles Falconer, from the ruling Labour Party, said 115 people had already travelled from Britain to Switzerland for help to commit suicide.
Although there had been investigations, no one had been prosecuted, he said.
"The result of the law not being applied is we have the horror of people going early to commit suicide abroad without their loved ones there," said Falconer, a former Lord Chancellor.
But independent peer Baroness Jane Campbell, who was born with spinal muscular atrophy, said the amendment sent the wrong signals to disabled people.
"If this amendment were to succeed, I believe it will place a new and invidious pressure on disabled and terminally ill people, who think that they are close to the end of their lives," she said.
The move had sparked widespread debate on both sides of the euthanasia divide, including criticism from church leaders, in the lead up to the vote.
The amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill was rejected by 194 votes to 141, a majority of 53.
Peers were free to vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines.
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