Groups hold talks on care

SEVERAL groups gathered in Clydebank Town Hall to attend the Future of Care in Scotland Conference.

The event was organised by the Campaign Against Assisted Dying (CAAD) and hosted by West Dunbartonshire Provost Douglas McAllister on Friday.

Martin Docherty Hughes MP, MSPs Jackie Baillie and Marie McNair as well as members of community groups and the public were all at the event.

CAAD organised the event amid concerns the group has over Liam McArthur MSP’s proposed Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults bill.

McArthur’s bill applies ‘mental capacity’ safeguards as patients must be both diagnosed as terminally ill and deemed mentally fit to understand both their condition and the consequences of their choices. Two doctors are legally required to agree before anyone can access the law.

Anyone applying for assisted dying would have to be a resident in Scotland for 12 months. This would prevent Scotland becoming a ‘suicide destination’ like Switzerland.

He is the third MSP in history to attempt to pass such legislation, which would see mentally competent adults with a terminal diagnosis given the ability to end their lives legally.

And the bill is expected to be introduced to the Scottish Parliament later this year.

CAAD detailed what it calls the “predictable concerns” of the proposed policy.

“Many in the population know about one of the issues affected by the proposals, the challenges of people facing a difficult death,” Brian Cairns, a CAAD member said.

“They know about this because of statements by famous people, and soap opera storylines, that have explored these concerns.

“From our work in the community, we know that most people are not aware of what has actually happened in countries which have legalised assisted dying.

“The experience of these countries show how care in Scotland could be changed by these proposals, especially for the most vulnerable.”

Ms McNair MSP added: “It was good to join others at Friday’s conference about the Future of Care in Scotland.

“It was really helpful to hear from Gordon Macdonald from Care not Killing and Marianne Scobie from Glasgow Disability Alliance.

“The bill has not yet been formally introduced in Parliament, but I am hoping to see it put forward in the coming weeks.”