Assisted suicide ‘legal for mental health issues’

Plans to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland would open the door to a Canada-style system which would allow people to end their lives solely for mental health conditions, campaigners have warned.

Under legislation currently proposed at Holyrood, only those who were terminally ill with a physical condition would be able to choose to die early, after signing a declaration and being assessed by two doctors.

The legislation insists that safeguards are in place and it would offer choice to those facing a painful death.