A proposal to legalize assisted dying for terminally ill patients in England and Wales was introduced this week in Britain’s House of Commons.

The bill, which has already prompted emotional public debate in Britain, is set to be debated formally in Parliament on Nov. 29, and a vote on the proposal will be held soon after. If it passes the initial vote, it would be scrutinized in committees and subject to further votes, including in the House of Lords, the upper chamber of Parliament.

It would be the first time in nearly a decade that British lawmakers vote on assisted dying, a once-taboo practice that has seen increased interest and legalization among Western countries in recent years. Here’s what to know:

What is the current law in Britain?

It is illegal to assist someone in the act of killing themselves in Britain. The proposed legislation only covers England and Wales, but a similar bill is being considered by Scotland’s Parliament.

Still, it is difficult to convict someone in these kinds of cases. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, the public prosecutor for England and Wales, 187 cases of assisted suicide have been referred to courts in the last 15 years; only four have been successfully prosecuted.

It is not legal to assist someone’s suicide in Scotland, but prosecutors there have said it is exceedingly unlikely that anyone would face charges for doing so, assuming the act was fully voluntary.

What is allowed in other countries?

Assisted dying has been legalized in many parts of Europe and North America in the 21st century. Many European countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain, permit assisted dying under certain circumstances. In the United States, assisted dying is allowed in 10 states and in the capital, Washington.