Voices of terminally ill Scots 'must be heard loud and clear' says MSP behind assisted dying bill
The voices of terminally ill Scots “must be heard loud and clear” as Holyrood considers legislation that would permit assisted dying, the MSP spearheading the bid to change the law has said.
Liam McArthur has brought forward a member’s Bill at Holyrood which, if passed, would allow adults living in Scotland who are suffering from a terminal illness to seek help to end their life.
It is the third time the Scottish Parliament has considered a bid to legalise assisted dying – with two previous attempts to change the law rejected by MSPs.
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But Mr McArthur, who will give evidence to members of Holyrood’s health Committee on Tuesday as they scrutinise his Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, said the change has been “a long time coming”.
The committee has already heard from both supporters and opponents of the controversial legislation, while Health Secretary Neil Gray has stressed the Scottish Government is taking a “neutral position” on the Bill.
But Mr McArthur said: “We know that the principle of assisted dying enjoys strong public support. This message came through strongly in the consultation I conducted and has been reflected consistently in public polling over recent years.
“That support exists across the population, regardless of age, disability status, geographic area and religious belief.
“As we debate these proposals, however, it is the voices of terminally ill Scots themselves that must be heard loud and clear.
“I have spoken to many people across the country about the harrowing deaths they have witnessed and to dying people facing a series of horrible decisions and desperate for more choice, control and dignity.
“This Bill has been a long time coming but, I hope, at long last, it can offer that compassionate choice for the small number of terminally ill Scots who need it.”
Mr McArthur’s Bill sets out plans to give people over the age of 16 with an advanced terminal illness the option of requesting an assisted death.
They would have to have the mental capacity to make such a request, which would have to be made voluntarily without them being coerced.
Two doctors would have to be satisfied of the patient’s condition, and also that they have not been pressurised into their decision.
Only people who have lived in Scotland for at least a year would be allowed to make such a request, with the Bill also setting out a mandatory 14-day “reflection” period between a qualifying patient making a request and being given the necessary medication.
Mr McArthur thanked the Health Committee for its work scrutinising the proposals, as well as all those who have given evidence about the Bill.
He said: “Whether you are ultimately in favour of allowing terminally ill Scots with mental capacity the choice of an assisted death or not, there can be no doubt about the importance of ensuring that, should legislation be passed, it is robust drafted and well safeguarded.
“I believe my Bill achieves this, though the committee, quite rightly, will wish to rigorously interrogate the proposals I have put forward.”
However, a spokesman for the Better Way campaign group said there was “clear evidence” that changing the law “would see abuses against vulnerable and marginalised people”.
The spokesman said: “The safeguards in Liam McArthur’s Bill would not rule out coercion of patients via subtle pressure applied behind closed doors. Nor would they rule out societal coercion arising from the inequalities people face. No safeguard could mitigate these problems.
“Scots who lack access to proper care, or who are grappling with loneliness, poverty and other disadvantages, would feel pressure to end their lives that more privileged members of society would not.
“There is also nothing that can be written into the Bill that would rule out future expansion.”