MSP slams Church's 'wicked' comments on Bill

MARGO MacDonald has hit back at the Roman Catholic Church after a spokesman claimed her assisted suicide Bill was seeking a cheaper alternative to medical care.

The independent Lothian MSP has branded the comments made by the senior Catholic spokesman as "wicked", and said that there "must be something seriously wrong with him".

John Deighan, the parliamentary officer for the Archdiocese of Glasgow, said he did not believe the assisted suicide Bill was dignified.

He said: "Quality of life is a factor that prompts us to try and provide the best medical care we can for people, and quality will be undermined if we find this cheaper alternative.

"Margo has put that forward as a justification for a Bill, that this is a cheaper alternative to caring, and I think that says a lot about where quality stands in the argument."

Ms MacDonald, who has Parkinson's disease, said she was shocked and disappointed by Mr Deighan's comments.

She said: "I was also very puzzled as to why a spokesman for the Catholic Church said what he did. Cost has nothing to do with it.

"It's very wicked of him to say so."