One of life’s taboos is set to be debated at Holyrood

HAVING dealt with one of life’s certainties for a number of years now by setting Scottish income tax rates, MSPS are turning to the other.

Legislation to introduce assisted dying for terminally ill people in Scotland has been published at Holyrood, and the bill is expected to be voted on later this year.

If approved, it would grant people over the age of 16 with an advanced terminal illness the option of requesting an assisted death at the time of their choosing, making Scotland the first country in the UK to allow this to happen.

Opponents fear this would see the lives of people who are ill or disabled being “devalued”, and religious leaders have spoken out, with the Bishop of Paisley John Keenan branding it is a “dangerous idea”.

But Liam Mcarthur , the MSP behind the bill, insists there is “compelling evidence” to support the move, and that he is confident the Scottish Parliament will back his legislation when it comes before it for a vote, promising that “robust safeguards” are included.

Assisted dying is one of the greatest taboos in Western society. With personal freedom over many areas in life considered sacrosanct, lawmakers have baulked at the idea that freedom ends when that life is drawing to a close.

This is the third time the matter has gone before Holyrood – with two previous attempts to change the law overwhelmingly defeated.

Liberal Democrat Mr Mcarthur thinks this time will be different. He believes

MSPS will “want to look closely at the detail and consider the compelling evidence supporting a change in the law”, adding: “I’m confident parliament will back my proposals to give terminally ill adults the choice they need.”

Under the terms of the bill, those requesting an assisted death would face several tests. First, 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. The bill also sets out a mandatory 14-day “reflection” period between a qualifying patient making a request and being given the necessary medication.

At this point, a medical professional would make a final check on the patient’s capacity. If this is cleared, the patient would be given the lethal concoction, which they would have to administer themselves.

Mr Mcarthur said: “This bill contains robust safeguards, similar to those which have been safely and successfully introduced in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the United States, where they continue to enjoy strong public support. Our current laws on assisted dying are failing too many terminally ill Scots at the end of life.

“Too often, and despite the best efforts of palliative care, dying people are facing traumatic deaths that harm both them and those they leave behind.”

Some elements of the bill, such as the regulation of medication used to end the lives of those who request it, may require consent from Westminster as they touch on reserved areas of the law.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, Mr Mcarthur said there have been “constructive” conversations with the Scotland Office on this, and he has been encouraged by comments from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer around votes on assisted dying.

A survey by campaign group Dignity in Dying found an average of 78% support for the bill across Scotland, with the group saying this shows “an unshakeable majority of support” for the change.

But opponents fear the bill “attacks human dignity”. Bishop Keenan said: “Assisted suicide sends a message that there are situations when suicide is an appropriate response to one’s individual circumstances, worries, anxieties. It normalises suicide and accepts that some people are beyond hope.”

There are also fears some people’s could be devalued by the bill. Dr Gillian Wright, a former palliative care registrar who is part of the Our Duty of Care campaign, spoke out against the proposals.

She said: “The primary danger is that individual lives are devalued by society because they are ill, disabled, confused, or that their contribution to society is perceived to be minimal.

“We do understand that there is suffering at the end of life, but this should drive us as a society not to provide assisted suicide, but instead well-funded, accessible, highquality palliative care for all.”

Professor David Galloway, a former president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow, said: “Medicalised killing should never find a place as a healthcare option. It runs counter to every instinct involved in medical training and practice.”

But even if Scotland rejects the bill, this may not be the end of the issue in the UK.

Sir Keir Starmer has said he is “committed” to allowing a vote on legalising assisted dying should Labour win the general election, while Downing Street has previously said it would be up to Parliament whether to again debate it.

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