Tennant’s dad: Let people die with dignity
THE terminally ill father of Broadchurch star David Tennant has called for assisted suicide to be legalised.
The Very Rev Sandy McDonald, 77, who suffers from the lung condition pulmonary fibrosis, wants to end his life if his condition becomes unbearable.
Although speaking in a personal capacity, the former minister, who claims his faith informs his opinion, has also called on the Church of Scotland to back his position.
He has made the controversial comments as Holyrood debates legislation that would make it legal for a terminally-ill patient to have a doctor help them die.
Mr McDonald said: ‘As far as Christians are concerned, if you love someone you should want them to have a peaceful death.
‘After 50 years in the ministry I have seen many people feeling their life has come to an end but they could do nothing about it. So many folk have said: “It is time for me to go, Sandy.” But our system does not allow for that.’
Mr McDonald, who lives in in Paisley, Renfrewshire, is unable to walk far without becoming seriously out of breath. He said: ‘There will come a time when I will not be able to get out of a chair or a bed, when I am fighting for every breath.
‘I don’t want my life prolonged when I can no longer breathe and can’t look after myself. I am quite a way from being there, but all of my family know this is what I want.’
Broadchurch star Tennant, who changed his name when he became an actor, received a Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards last month and dedicated it to his father, who he described as his ‘role model’.
Mr McDonald, whose wife died of cancer in 2007, stressed his views about suicide are personal rather than those of the Church of Scotland, but he has called on the Kirk to address the issue at its annual gathering of senior figures in Edinburgh this May.
The law as it stands in Scotland prohibits assisted suicide although it is not an offence to attempt to kill oneself.
Palliative care consultant Dr Stephen Hutchison, of the Care Not Killing campaign, sympathised with Mr McDonald but said: ‘The current law is safe and protects people and a change to the law would be dangerous. It would put vulnerable people at risk.’
‘My family know it’s what I want’