Scotland’s assisted dying bill rejected after emotional debate
MSPs have rejected the chance to make Scotland the first part of the UK to legalise assisted dying.
The proposals, tabled by Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur, would have allowed terminally-ill, mentally competent adults to seek medical help to end their lives.
Following an emotionally-charged final debate, the bill was defeated by 69 votes to 57.
Opponents raised several concerns about the bill – particularly fears of people being coerced into an assisted death.
McArthur accused those who rejected the bill of a “woefully inadequate response to the suffering and trauma experienced by dying Scots and their families”.
The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill would have made it legal for a medical practitioner or authorised health professional to give an eligible patient a lethal drug to end their own life.
To get to that point, they would have to make two declarations affirming their wishes, as well as passing checks from doctors to see if they had been coerced or influenced.
A bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales is being considered at Westminster, though it appears unlikely to pass before the end of the parliamentary term.
McArthur made several changes to the bill in a bid to win over swithering MSPs.
This included limiting eligibility to those with less than six months to live, despite the MSP earlier arguing against such a move.
But ultimately his efforts were in vain.
Again and again during the final debate, the word that passed the lips of opponents to the bill was “coercion”.
Independent MSP Jeremy Balfour – born with no left arm and a right arm that ends at the elbow – said disabled people were “terrified” of assisted dying legislation.
He warned the bill would open “a pandora’s box” and said there could be “no meaningful protection” against coercion.
“I’m begging you to consider the consequences for the most vulnerable,” Balfour said.