Campaigners continue fight for assisted dying law

CAMPAIGNERS for an assisted dying law to be introduced in Scotland have vowed to continue their fight despite a bill being voted down by MSPs.
Campaigners for an assisted dying bill, led by the Humanist Society of Scotland and Friends at the End, gather outside the Scottish Parliament to promote the results of an opinion poll which showed support for the proposed law. Picture: TSPLCampaigners for an assisted dying bill, led by the Humanist Society of Scotland and Friends at the End, gather outside the Scottish Parliament to promote the results of an opinion poll which showed support for the proposed law. Picture: TSPL
Campaigners for an assisted dying bill, led by the Humanist Society of Scotland and Friends at the End, gather outside the Scottish Parliament to promote the results of an opinion poll which showed support for the proposed law. Picture: TSPL

The controversial issue has continued to make headlines since the Scottish Parliament rejected a proposal in May that would have allowed those with terminal illnesses to seek the help of a doctor to end their own life.

Simon Binner, a 57-year-old company director from Surrey, announced on his LinkedIn networking profile he would take his own life on Monday. He was suffering from an aggressive form of motor neurone disease.

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Several public opinion polls have found that around two-thirds of Scots are in favour of some form of assisted dying legislation being introduced.

Scottish Greens leader Patrick Harvie led the campaign for the last assistant dying bill to be introduced at Holyrood. Picture: TSPLScottish Greens leader Patrick Harvie led the campaign for the last assistant dying bill to be introduced at Holyrood. Picture: TSPL
Scottish Greens leader Patrick Harvie led the campaign for the last assistant dying bill to be introduced at Holyrood. Picture: TSPL

A Populus poll in March found 83 per cent of Scots backed an assisted dying law. This was up from 69 per cent who were in favour when asked in January 2014 for a survey by Progressive Scottish Opinion.

Euthanasia is currently legal by different degrees in five countries - Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, Colombia and Switzerland.

Four US states - California, Oregon, Vermont and Washington - also either passed assisted suicide laws or do not prosecute those who choose it. Euthanasia was briefly legal in New Mexico until a district court ruling was overturned on appeal in August.

MSPs rejected the Assisted Suicide Scotland Bill by 82 votes to 36 following a debate at Holyrood in March.

The bill was originally introduced by the late Margo MacDonald, who died in 2014 following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

It was then taken up by Scottish Greens leader Patrick Harvie.

MSPs were given a free vote on the issue. Supporters argued the issue needed greater clarity in law and was supported by a majority of the public.

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It is not illegal to attempt suicide in Scotland, however assisting someone to take their own life could lead to prosecution.

Opponents argued the legislation was flawed and would be unethical.

Harvie said it had been “a great honour” to introduce the bill and said it retained public support despite being voted down.

“While most MSPs voted against the right to die this time round, there is still strong support for assisted suicide Scottish society - both in academic and legal argument, and in public opinion polls,” he said.

“It’s unlikely that the vote last May marks the end of the debate.

“Those who voted against the Assisted Suicide Bill held a number of concerns over the potential impact of the right to die - perhaps the most significant is the perception that people would come under pressure to choose assisted suicide against their will. While I’m convinced that these concerns can be fully addressed, it’s clear that more discussion must be had to reassure many of the merits of allowing people to make their own choice.

“The Scottish Greens will respect the democratic decision made by the Scottish Parliament, but we look forward to continued discussion on how our society can secure a dignified life and death for people with a terminal illness or degenerative condition.

“It’s crucial that decisions on assisted suicide aren’t rushed, but it’s equally important that we don’t shy away from a constructive, well-informed debate on an issue that has such a profound impact on peoples’ ability to maintain control over their lives.”

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The medical profession is split on the issue. The British Medical Association (BMA) is firmly opposed while the Royal College of Nursing takes a neutral stance.

A spokesman for BMA Scotland said: “There are strongly held views within the medical profession on both sides of this complex and emotive issue which has been regularly debated at the BMA’s policy forming annual conference where recent calls for a change in the law have been rejected by the BMA.”

Care Not Killing Scotland, a campaign group which promotes palliative care, said legalising assisted suicide would put pressure on the vulnerable and the right to die would “very quickly become the duty to die”.

“In the last five years alone, Holyrood has decisively rejected assisted suicide on two occasions,” said convenor Gordon Macdonald.

“There is clearly little political appetite up here to reopen this debate. With Westminster overwhelmingly rejecting assisted suicide just a few months ago as well, repeated attempts to liberalise the law are a waste of time, money and energy that could be spent improving palliative care for those at the end of their lives.”

“If the political parties here in Scotland are serious about helping vulnerable people they would be better advised to include manifesto promises to improve end-of-life care across the nation.”

Campaigners for assisted dying are now calling on the Lord Advocate to issue prosecution guidance on the issue.

Scotland is currently the only legal jurisdiction in the UK not to issue guidance to judges on those convicted of helping someone to commit suicide.

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Gordon Ross, a former treasurer of the Humanist Society of Scotland, unsuccesfully tried to foce a judicial review of the matter in September.

“I am bitterly disappointed by the decision by Lord Doherty not to take the opportunity to clarify the current law on assisted suicide in Scotland, described recently by 21 legal academics as shameful,” he said.

“I have no wish to end my own life and hope I never do reach that point. However, this decision will mean that, if someone has a degenerative condition which might lead them to one day lose the ability to take their own life, they may now choose to do so earlier whilst they still have the capacity rather than put a friend or family member at risk of prosecution by waiting until they might require assistance.”