After much public debate, Lord Joffe’s bill was put before the Lords, and defeated.

I think this is a triumph for the notion of sanctity of life. As far as the bible is concerned, we are all made in the image of God

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Ge 1:27

and the taking of life is a very serious thing.

You shall not murder. Ex 20:13

The only time the state is sanctioned to rule on whether someone lives or dies is in the administering of justice.

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Ro 13:3,4

There is no other remit for taking someone’s life. If this bill had passed, life would become more of a commodity, with people’s lives determined more by what they think they’re worth in their ability to contribute to society and family, rather than their actual worth as a loved one – both by their friends and family, and by God.