Language matters when we talk about assisted dying
Act, restricting the ability of the devolved governments (Wales too, by the way) to legislate.
Alistair Ballantyne
Angus
WILL the rest of Scotland follow the north-east in thinking Alex Salmond would be the best First Minister? The National’s coverage of the poll that showed Douglas Ross is preferred by more Scots than Anas Sarwar in terms of who would be the best FM was interesting reading.
It is a devastating poll for Humza Yousaf. He has the backing of about a quarter of Scotland and this may well be a bellwether for SNP support at the General Election. Unfortunately, even though Sarwar and Ross are behind Yousaf, we will see tactical voting that will result in a rout of the SNP.
The real story of the poll is that nearly a quarter of SNP voters at the 2019 General Election think Alex Salmond would make the best First
One of the richest men in the UK was taken to a chapel
Minister. Salmond is the top pick in the north-east likely because the SNP and Greens have poured cold water on the areas key industry. After a visionless year in office it’s only a matter of time before the rest of Scotland takes its lead from the north-east.
Frank Wood
Port Glasgow
ON March 31, according to the BBC, the biggest story was apparently that one of the richest men in the UK was taken by car the short distance to a chapel in the grounds of his estate. He deigned to shake hands with a few people.
Had the story been a day later. I might have seen a parallel with the spaghetti harvest reported by David Dimbleby in 1957. But, alas, no, and the story was perpetuated in the rest of the UK press on Monday – but perhaps that was the actual April Fool story?
Ian Lawson
Milngavie
SO, the assisted dying bill has at last reached our Scottish Parliament. My own involvement began at my first cross-party group meeting in March 2019.
In that meeting, Professor Harry Quillan of Community Pharmacy Scotland presented a detailed case outlining the practical, financial and ethical problems and issues for doctors, pharmacists and patients. His carefully researched proposals and findings were stunning in their detailed consideration.
In the following months I heard experts from around the world submit their experiences and findings. I learned several things.
The politicians in the room were from across the political spectrum but they presented as a serious group of people, collectively intent on establishing a case for change in the current legislation. To those of us who are so used to being presented with a more combative image, this was something of a revelation – a hearteningly positive one.
Prof Quillan’s presentation has stayed with me ever since. It set the tone of serious professional consideration. The subsequent speakers underlined that initial voice. Given the anxieties and doubts expressed by those who oppose the bill, I could only wish that they had been present to gauge the sober, serious intent of the new legislation.
As the debate goes forward, the words we use, the terminology some of our politicians can use and the language our media constantly uses requires equal care, and seriousness. In one of the meetings, an MSP new to the debate was admonished by the chairperson for use of the phrase “assisted suicide”. The chair suggested such a phrase might be considered inappropriate and emotionally loaded with a bias that was not helpful.
The point was underlined in a later meeting by Dr D Obree of Edinburgh University, who suggested that “the terminology of accelerated dying is a mess”. In a more extreme example, it was reported that MSPs from across the political spectrum had joined together to oppose the proposed bill, stating: “society should be preventing suicide, not assisting it. Have we really become a society that says the best answer we can provide to those suffering in end of life situations is to help them kill themselves? Is that really all we can offer?”
Over the past two years, time and again I have heard the phrase “slippery slope”. I attended a Zoom conference in February 2023 chaired by journalist Polly Toynbee for the Assisted Dying Coalition. Time and again the representatives from around the UK spoke of the resistance of MPs to making a decision which would in effect respond to polling that suggested that 82% of the population supported assisted dying.
The reticence of our political representatives seems to cohere around the fear of “the slippery slope”. In lobbying my MSPs on behalf of the current bill, my last meeting was with an MSP at the other end of the political spectrum from myself. We had a good meeting.
He explained very clearly his doubts about a change in the law, was clear about his own strong, moral and ethical beliefs but equally clear that as representative, he was obliged to set them aside and make a judgement for the public greater good. But there was that irrevocable crossing of a line that could not be gone back on. Ah! The slippery slope?
I put it to him that the very reason he was sitting before me was that someone, sometime had crossed a line and let the ordinary person have the vote. Universal suffrage, votes for women, gay rights, disabled rights, all were viewed in their time as descents into some manner of chaos. He smiled and summarised: “One person’s ascent to civilisation is another person’s slide into barbarity!” Please discuss!
Lewis Waugh Edinburgh