Assisted dying law in Scotland would allow terminally ill people 'choice to die on their own terms'

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Terminally ill adults in Scotland should be given the "choice to die on their own terms", campaigners have said.

MSPs are currently scrutinising legislation which would allow Scots diagnosed with a terminal illness the right to an assisted death.

The Bill - which has yet to be voted on - has been put forward by Scottish Lib Dems MSP Liam McArthur.

He will join families with personal experience of the issue at an event on Tuesday in Edinburgh which aims to explain to the public why the controversial measure is needed.

Among the speakers will be Dr Sally Talbot, a member of parliament from Western Australia. All states and territories in Australia have in recent years voted to legalise assisted dying.

She told the Record there was a "degree of inevitability" that more countries like Scotland would soon follow suit.

Dr Talbot said around 10 per cent of suicides were committed by people with a terminal diagnosis. "That way of dying is inevitably traumatic for the patient and their families," she added.

She added: "Some people do end their lives when they have a terminal illness. It's not a question of life or death.

"The choice is between a death where you retain some degree of choice about how or when you die, or a death that it totally out of your control.

MPs at Westminster will vote next week on whether assisted dying should be legalised in England and Wales.

Campaigners hope a vote in favour in the Commons would increase the likelihood of MSPs backing similar legislation in Scotland.

McArthur said: "It is profoundly important that the voices and wishes of those most affected by the law on assisted dying are heard in Parliament. Currently, in lieu of safe, compassionate choice, every year hundreds of terminally ill people across the UK end their own lives, often in lonely and traumatic ways.

"Almost 600 Scots a year are estimated to die in pain despite the best care. Dozens of Britons travel to Switzerland each year to access assisted dying, but at an average cost of £15,000 it is out of reach for most, and people must either travel alone, or have loved ones risk lengthy police investigations for accompanying them. It's clear the law is not working and needs to change."

"My bill sets out an assisted dying proposal that introduces safety, scrutiny and compassion. It builds on best practice from similar laws overseas and offers a practical model for law change that reflects the widespread and enduring public support for assisted dying.

"If passed, it would introduce practical measures to assess eligibility, ensure rigorous medical oversight, and robustly monitor every part of the process. Importantly it would give dying people in Scotland what so many wish for - the choice to die on their own terms, alongside access to the very best care and subject to safety measures sorely lacking right now."

Under the proposal, two doctors would have to independently confirm the person meets the criteria and the individual would have to sign a written declaration. Two previous attempts at legislating in this area have failed, but McArthur is hopeful he has the votes.

Scotland’s Health Secretary has previously warned the assisted dying Bill going through Holyrood falls outwith the Parliament’s powers.

Neil Gray said issues relating to end-of-life drugs are reserved to Westminster and not under the control of MSPs.

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